Abstract:
The connector assembly includes a first connector ( 10 ) with female terminals ( 10   e ), upstream from a power supply ( 2 ) in a circuit for vehicle electric equipment. The assembly includes a second connector ( 11 ) with male terminals ( 11   d ), downstream from the power supply in the circuit. The second connector is mated with the first connector. The first and second connectors include a connector connection interconnecting the power supply and a load ( 6 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a connector assembly, which allows a pair of connectors with male and female terminals to join a circuit for vehicle equipment.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Relevant Art  
           [0004]    Recently, an automotive for a high-voltage of 42 V advances in development. The automotive is equipped with a motor generator with an advantageous fuel cost. The high-voltage automotive has a voltage three times as great as 14V of a vehicle current power supply. The voltage causes arc-discharge or short-circuit during line assembly or service to become three times in probability. This necessitates a counter-plan due to maintenance and prevention against disaster.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is directed to a connector assembly, which prevents short-circuit or arc-discharge during handling of connectors, thus improving maintenancability or preventionability against disaster.  
           [0006]    A first aspect of the invention is directed to a connector assembly. The assembly includes a first connector with female terminals, upstream from a power supply in a circuit for vehicle electric equipment. The assembly includes a second connector with male terminals, downstream from the power supply in the circuit. The second connector is mated with the first connector. The first and second connectors include a connector connection therebetween interconnecting the power supply and a load.  
           [0007]    Preferably, the second connector includes a connector insertion opening for arranging the male terminals inside the insertion openings.  
           [0008]    Preferably, the first connector includes a projection to be inserted into the connector insertion opening. The projection includes terminal insertion openings for arranging the female terminals therein.  
           [0009]    Preferably, the projection includes partitions for separating the terminal insertion openings from each other.  
           [0010]    Preferably, the circuit includes a power supply-side and a load-side. The first connector connects to the power supply-side. The second connector connects to the load-side. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 1A, 1B and  1 C show an embodiment of a connector assembly according to the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1A is a primary block diagram of a vehicle electric equipment circuit;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a connector with a female terminal; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a connector with a male terminal; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the male and female terminals in FIGS. 1B and 1C. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    An embodiment of the present invention will hereby be described with reference to the drawings.  
         [0017]    As shown on FIG. 1A, vehicle electric equipment circuit  1  includes power supply  2 , which supplies a power voltage of 42V. Circuit  1  includes fuse  3 , which prevents application of overcurrent. Circuit  1  includes a connector connection  4 , which interconnects wire-harness. Circuit  1  includes electric equipment load  6 , which is actuated by power supply  2 . Circuit  1  includes switch  5 , which allows actuation of electric equipment load  6 . These constitute primary components. Connector connection  4  includes connector  10  and  11  with female and male terminals  10   e  and  11   d . Connector  10  is arranged upstream from power supply  2 , or is connected to an end of the power supply  2 . Connector  11  is arranged downstream from power supply  2 , or is connected to an end of load  6 .  
         [0018]    Connector  11  includes connector casing  11   a  in FIG. 1C. Connector  11  includes hood  11   b , which extends from the insertion end from casing  11   a . Hood  11   b  includes an internal space, serving as connector insertion opening  11   c . Casing  11   a  has insertion end face  11   f , from which male terminals  11   d  extend. Terminals  11   d  are arranged within opening  11   c . Respective terminals  11   d  connect to respective lines downstream from power supply  2  in casing  11   a.    
         [0019]    Connector  10 , as shown in FIG. 1B, includes connector casing  11   a . Casing  10   a  includes an end face, which has connector projection  10   b  for inserting into opening  11   c . Projection  10   b  includes insertion end face  10   d , which opens terminal insertion openings  10   c . Each of openings  10   c  includes an interior, where female terminal  10   e  of FIG. 2 are placed. Respective female terminals  10   e  connect to corresponding lines upstream from power supply  2  in casing  10   a.    
         [0020]    Projection  10   b  includes vertical and transverse partitions  10   f , which separates openings  10   c  from each other. The partitions  10   f  prevent short-circuit between female terminals  10   e.    
         [0021]    Each of male terminals  11   d  includes a crimping part  11   d   1  and a connecting protrusion  11   d   2  extending from the crimping part  11   d   1 . The protrusion  11   d   2  includes sharp contact  11   d   3  at the tip, which has a great curvature to cause locally large electric field.  
         [0022]    Each of female terminals  10   e  includes a crimping part  10   e   1  and a looped receiver  10   e   2  extending from the crimping part  10   e   1 . Receiver  10   e   2  includes contact  10   e   3 , which has a smaller curvature than contact  11   d   3 . Thus, contact  10   e   3  has no tendency to produce arc-discharge, comparing to contact  11   d   3 .  
         [0023]    During assembly, each of male terminals  11   d  is inserted into opening  11   c . Contact  11   d   3  come close to mating contact  10   e   3 . At this time, no arc-discharge occurs between contacts  11   d   3  and  10   e   3 . Contact  11   d   3  reaches contact  10   e   3 , thus establishing electric conduction. Protrusion  11   d   2  is inserted into receiver  10   e   2 , and is resiliently retained in receiver  10   e   2 .  
         [0024]    During assembly or removal of connectors  10 ,  11 , connector  10  connects to the upstream from power supply  2 , and a power voltage is applied to connector  10 . Connector  10  has female terminals  10   e , which are housed within openings  10   c  of a narrow width. Thus, there is no possibility for fingers to come close to or in contact with female terminals  10   e , and no possibility of short-circuit or arc-discharge during the handling of connection  4 .  
         [0025]    According to the invention, during handling of the connector, prevention of short-circuit or arc-discharge improves maintenancability and preventionabiity against disaster.  
         [0026]    The entire contents of Japanese Patent Applications P2001-2889537 (filed on Sep. 21, 2001) are incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0027]    Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.