Lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker

Power terminals constituting a power switch are provided in both of connector housings, respectively. Fitting sensing terminals forming a fitting sensing switch are provided in a lever attached to the one connector housing and the other connector housing. When the lever is operated from an operation start position to an operation completion position, the power terminals are brought into contact with each other to turn ON the power switch, and thereafter, both of the fitting sensing terminals are brought into contact with each other to turn ON the fitting sensing switch, and a power supply circuit is brought into a conductive state by the turning ON of the fitting sensing switch. The fitting sensing terminal provided in the other connector housing is formed of a pair of male terminals utilizing bus bars, and the fitting sensing terminal provided in the lever is formed of a short pin formed into a substantially U-shape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker which fits one of connector housings to the other connector housing and releases such fitting on the contrary by operating a lever with low operating force by utilizing a cam mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art

In an electric vehicle, a capacity of a power supply which is a battery is larger as compared with that of a battery of a usual gasoline engine vehicle and the like. Accordingly, in such a case of maintaining an electrical system and the like of the electric vehicle, a power supply circuit is opened by a circuit breaker, and safety during work is ensured. As such a type of the conventional lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker, there is one shown in FIGS. 1A to 13 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-343169).

As shown inFIGS. 10 to 13, this lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker100includes one connector housing101, a lever102attached to the one connector housing101, and the other connector housing103to which the one connector housing101is attached by an operation of the lever102.

As shown inFIGS. 1A,1B, and4to6B, the one connector housing101includes a housing body104, and a cover105attached to the housing body104so as to close an upper portion of the housing body104. A terminal hood portion108is provided under the housing body104, and a pair of male terminals109and109(shown inFIGS. 5 and 6B) are provided in the terminal hood portion108in a state of being protruded downward. The pair of male terminals109and109are electrically connected to each other through a fuse110(shown inFIG. 6A) housed in the housing body104.

A pair of guide pins111and111are protruded from outer walls of the housing body104, and guide grooves120of the lever102, which are described later, are individually engaged with the guide pins111and111.

A pair of lever-path adjusting guide grooves115and115are provided on the outer walls of the housing body104. One of step side faces (denoted by reference numeral115a) forming the respective lever-path adjusting guide grooves115and115is formed of a vertical step side face extended in a vertical direction, a horizontal step side face extended in a horizontal direction, and a circular arc step side face connecting these side faces in a circular arc shape. Then, with the pair of lever-path adjusting guide grooves115and115, a pair of lever-path adjusting guide pins124and124of the other connector housing103, which are described later, are engaged. Each of the pair of lever-path adjusting guide pins124and124is slid along the step side face115aof each lever-path adjusting guide groove115.

As shown inFIGS. 2 to 6B, the lever102includes a pair of arm plate portions118aand118barranged in parallel at an interval, and an operating portion119coupling the pair of arm plate portions118aand118bto each other. In the pair of arm plate portions118aand118b, the guide grooves120extended in the horizontal direction are provided at positions symmetric to each other. Into the respective guide grooves120, the pair of guide pins111and111of the one connector housing101are individually inserted.

In the pair of arm plate portions118aand118b, cam grooves121are provided at positions symmetric to each other. Into the pair of cam grooves121and121, cam pins136of the other connector housing103, which are described later, are inserted. Moreover, the lever-path adjusting guide pins124are individually provided on inner walls of the pair of arm plate portions118aand118b. The pair of lever-path adjusting guide pins124and124are engaged with the pair of lever-path adjusting guide grooves115and115of the one connector housing101.

Moreover, one of the pair of arm plate portions118aand118bis provided to be wider in width as compared with the other one. Specifically, the arm plate portion118bis made wider. In the arm plate portion118bwider in width, a connector portion125(shown inFIGS. 3A and 6B) is provided. In the connector portion125, a fitting sensing male terminal126is provided.

As shown inFIGS. 7,8A,8B and the like, the other connector housing103has a substantially rectangular shape in which an upper surface is opened, and an inner space thereof serves as an attachment space130of the one connector housing101. On a bottom surface portion131becoming a lower surface of the attachment space130, terminal hood/housing portions134are integrally provided in a state of being protruded in the vertical direction. In the terminal hood/housing portions134, female terminals135(shown inFIGS. 7,8A and8B) are individually housed. To the respective female terminals135, one end sides of lead wires139aare connected. One of the lead wires139aand the other thereof are guided to a load unit140side of a power supply circuit B and a power supply unit141side of the power supply circuit B, respectively. Specifically, a power switch SW1(shown inFIG. 9) of the power supply circuit B is composed of the male terminals109and female terminals135of both of the connector housings101and103.

Moreover, from the symmetric positions of inner peripheral walls of the other connector housing103, the pair of cam pins136and136are protruded. As described above, the pair of cam pins136and136are inserted into the cam grooves121of the lever102when the one connector housing101is attached to the other connector housing103. Moreover, in the attachment space130of the other connector housing103, a connector portion137is provided. In the connector portion137, a pair of fitting sensing female terminals138and138are arranged. A fitting sensing switch SW2(shown inFIG. 9) is composed of the pair of fitting sensing female terminals138and138and the fitting sensing male terminal126of the lever102. The fitting sensing switch SW2is turned ON in a manner that the male terminal126of the lever2is brought into contact with the pair of fitting sensing female terminals138and138, and turned OFF in a non-contact state of the male terminal126of the lever102. To the pair of female terminals138and138, lead wires139bare individually connected, and both of the lead wires139bare guided to a relay circuit142of the power supply circuit B.

Next, the power supply circuit B is described. As shown inFIG. 9, the power supply circuit B includes the load unit140, and the power supply unit141which supplies electric power to the load unit140. To the load unit140and the power supply unit141, the power switch SW1, which is formed of the terminals109and135of both of the connector housings101and103, and the relay circuit142, are connected in series. The relay circuit142is an electric circuit which is turned ON when the fitting sensing switch SW2is ON and turned OFF when the fitting sensing switch SW2is OFF. The power switch SW1formed of the terminals109and135of both of the connector housings101and103is a mechanical switch as described above.

Next, an operation of the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker100is described with reference toFIGS. 10 to 13.FIG. 10is a perspective view showing a state before the one connector housing101is temporarily fitted to the other connector housing103.FIG. 11is a perspective view showing a state where the one connector housing101is set at a temporal connector-fitting position of the other connector housing103.FIG. 12is a perspective view showing a state where the lever102is located at a rotation completing position in a process where the one connector housing101is fitted to the other connector housing103.FIG. 13is a perspective view showing a state where the fitting of the one connector housing101to the other connector housing103is completed.

First, an operation of bringing the power supply circuit B into a conductive state by the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker100is described. As shown inFIG. 10, the lever102is set at an operation start position, and the one connector housing101is inserted into the attachment space103from above the other connector housing103. Then, as shown inFIG. 11, the terminal hood portion108of the one connector housing101is inserted into the terminal hood/housing portion134of the other connector housing103while being fitted thereto. Moreover, the pair of cam pins136and136of the other connector housing103are inserted into the pair of cam grooves121and121of the lever102. Then, the pair of cam pins136and136enter the pair of cam grooves121and121, and the one connector housing101and the other connector housing103are set at the temporal connector-fitting position.

Next, the lever102is rotated in a direction of an arrow A1ofFIG. 11. Then, the lever102is rotated about the pair of guide pins111and111from the operation start position ofFIG. 11to a rotation completion position ofFIG. 12. By this rotation of the lever102, the one connector housing101gradually approaches and enters the inside of the other connector housing103. Then, the terminals109and135of both of the connector housings101and103are brought into contact with each other before the lever102is located at the rotation completion position, and at the rotation completion position of the lever102, both of the connector housings101and103reach the connector-fitting position.

Next, when the lever102is slid in a direction of an arrow B1ofFIG. 12, the pair of guide pins111and111are slid in the pair of guide grooves120and120of the lever102. In addition, the pair of cam pins136and136of the other connector housing103are slid in the pair of cam grooves121and121of the lever102, and are located at a fitting completion position ofFIG. 13. In this sliding process, the fitting sensing male terminal126of the lever102is brought into contact with the fitting sensing female terminals138and138. Then, when the fitting sensing switch SW2is turned ON, the relay circuit142is turned ON, and thus the power supply circuit B is brought into the conductive state for the first time.

Next, an operation of bringing the power supply circuit B in the conductive state into a non-conductive state (break of the power supply) by the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker100is described. In the state ofFIG. 13, when the lever102located at the operation completion position is slid in a direction of an arrow B2ofFIG. 13, the pair of guide pins111and111are slid in the pair of guide grooves120and120of the lever102, and the pair of cam pins136and136of the other connector housing103are slid in the pair of cam grooves121and121of the lever102. Thus, the lever102is slid to the rotation completion position ofFIG. 12. Before the lever102is located at the rotation completion position, the fitting sensing male terminal126of the lever102is separated from the pair of fitting sensing female terminals138and138of the other connector housing103, and is brought into the non-contact state therewith. Then, when the fitting sensing switch SW2is turned OFF, the relay circuit142is turned OFF, and at this point of time, the power supply circuit B has already been brought into the non-conductive state.

Next, when the lever102is rotated in a direction of an arrow A2ofFIG. 12, the lever102is rotated about the pair of guide pins111and111of the lever102to the operation start position ofFIG. 11. Moreover, the pair of cam pins136and136of the other connector housing103are moved in the pair of cam grooves121and121of the lever102, and thus the one connector housing101is gradually moved upward so as to be separated from the other connector housing103, and is drawn therefrom. Then, before the lever102is located at the operation start position, the terminals109and135of both of the connector housings101and103are brought into the non-contact state with each other, and at the operation start position of the lever102, both of the connector housings101and103are located at the temporal connector-fitting position.

As described above, in the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker100, in the process of rotationally moving the lever102from the operation start position to the rotation completion position, the terminals109and135of both of the connector housings101and103are brought into the contact state with each other, and the power switch SW1is tuned ON, but the power supply circuit B is still non-conductive. In the process of sliding (linearly moving) the lever102from the rotation completion position to the operation completion position, the fitting sensing switch SW2is turned ON, and thus the relay circuit142is turned ON, and the power supply circuit B is brought into the conductive state for the first time. Therefore, the power supply circuit B can be prevented from being brought into the conductive state halfway through the operation of the lever102. Hence, recognition that the power supply circuit B is still non-conductive because the operation of the lever102is not completed yet becomes reasonable, thus making it possible to prevent an occurrence of an accident. Moreover, when the power supply circuit B is switched from the conductive state to the non-conductive state, in the process of linearly moving the lever102from the operation completion position to the rotation completion position, the fitting sensing switch SW2is turned OFF, and thus the relay circuit142is turned OFF, and the power supply circuit B is brought into the non-conductive state. In the process of rotationally moving the lever102from the rotation completion position to the operation start position, the power switch SW1between both of the terminals109and135is brought into a separated state. Thus, there is a time lag from the time when the power supply circuit B is turned OFF to the time when the power switch SW1between the terminals109and135is separated, and a discharge time is ensured. Therefore, an arc discharge can be prevented.

However, in the above-described conventional lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker100, the fitting sensing switch SW2is formed into a so-called male-female terminal structure made of the fitting sensing male terminal126and the pair of fitting sensing female terminals138and138, and is arranged in the connector portions125and137, and accordingly, a large installation space is required. Therefore, there are problems that a width dimension W1of the lever102and a width dimension of W2of the other connector housing103are increased, and that the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker100becomes large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this connection, the present invention is one created in order to solve the above-described problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker including a power switch and a fitting sensing switch, which is capable of being downsized.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention is a lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker, including:

a first connector housing including a lever provided for moving between an operation start position and an operation completion position; and

a second connector housing fittable to the first connector housing,

wherein the first and second connector housings individually provide power terminals forming a power switch therein,

fitting sensing terminals forming a fitting sensing switch are individually provided in the lever and the second connector housing, the fitting sensing terminal provided in the second connector housing is formed of a pair of male terminals, and the fitting sensing terminal provided in the lever is formed of a short pin, and

when the lever is operated from the operation start position to the operation completion position in a state where the first and second connector housings are set at a temporal connector-fitting position, the first and second connector housings move from the temporal connector-fitting position to a connector-fitting position, and the power terminals are brought into contact with each other to turn ON the power switch, and thereafter, both of the fitting sensing terminals are brought into contact with each other to turn ON the fitting sensing switch, and a power supply circuit is brought into a conductive state by the turning ON of the fitting sensing switch.

With this configuration, the fitting sensing switch is composed of the pair of male terminals and the short pin, which can accordingly be installed in small installation spaces of the other connector housing and the lever, respectively. Hence, the other connector housing and the lever can be downsized, and eventually, the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker can be downsized. Moreover, a structure of the fitting sensing switch is simple, and accordingly, the fitting sensing switch can be manufactured at low cost.

In a preferred embodiment, the pair of male terminals may be formed by utilizing a pair of bus bars arranged in the second connector housing, the short pin may be formed into a substantially U-shape, and the short pin may sandwich the pair of male terminals from both outsides thereof to be brought into a conductive state thereto.

With this configuration, the short pin of the substantially U-shape sandwiches the pair of male terminals to contact the same male terminals, and accordingly, the short pin can be brought into contact with the male terminals with large pressing force. Therefore, a highly reliable conductive state can be obtained.

The lever may include a pair of arm plate portions arranged at an interval and an operating portion coupling the pair of arm plate portions to each other, and the short pin may be provided in the operating portion.

With this configuration, the short pin can be installed without increasing a width of the lever.

The movement of the lever from the operation start position to the operation completion position may be composed of a rotational movement and a linear movement, both of the power terminals may be brought into contact with each other in a process of the rotational movement, and the pair of male terminals and the short pin may be brought into contact with each other in a process of the linear movement.

With this configuration, an operation of the lever, which makes the power supply circuit conductive, is composed of two actions, which are the rotational operation and the linear operation, and the power supply circuit is made conductive by the latter linear operation. Moreover, an operation of the lever, which makes the power supply circuit non-conductive, is composed of the two actions performed reversely to the above, the power supply circuit is turned OFF by the former linear operation, and the power switch between the power terminals is turned OFF with delay by the following rotational operation. Therefore, a sufficient discharge time can be ensured.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 14A to 30Cshow a lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker of the one embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 14Ais an exploded front view of one connector housing.FIG. 14Bis an exploded side view of the one connector housing.FIG. 15is a perspective view of a lever.FIG. 16Ais a side view of the lever.FIG. 16Bis a cross-sectional view along a line16B—16B inFIG. 16A.FIG. 17is a front view showing the one connector housing to which the lever is attached, in a state where the lever is located at an operation start position.FIG. 18is a back view showing the one connector housing to which the lever is attached, in the state where the lever is located at the operation start position.FIG. 19Ais a partially cutaway plan view of the one connector housing to which the lever is attached.FIG. 19Bis a bottom view of the one connector housing to which the lever is attached.FIG. 20is a partially cutaway front view of the other connector housing.FIG. 21Ais a plan view of the other connector housing.FIG. 21Bis a cross-sectional view along a line21B—21B inFIG. 21A.

As shown inFIGS. 23 to 28and1A to5, a lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker1A for a high-voltage/large-current circuit includes one connector housing1made of synthetic resin, a lever2made of synthetic resin, to which the one connector housing1is attached, and the other connector housing3made of synthetic resin, to which the one connector housing1is attached by an operation of the lever2.

As shown inFIGS. 14A,14B and17to19B, the one connector housing1includes a housing body4, and a cover5attached to the housing body4so as to close an upper portion of the housing body4. The cover5is attached to the housing body4in a manner that a pair of triangular protrusions (protruding portions)6and6of the housing body4are inserted into engaging holes7of the cover5. Each triangular protrusion6is provided such that a lower side thereof becomes a surface orthogonal to a surface of the housing body4, and that both of upper sides thereof become slant surfaces gradually rising from the surface of the housing body4. Thus, the cover5is made attachable to the housing body4in two directions, which are: from above the housing body4as shown by a solid line inFIG. 14A, and from a side of the housing body5as shown by a virtual line inFIG. 14A. Hence, in the case where the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker1A is installed in a narrow space, it is possible to easily attach and detach the cover5.

A terminal hood portion8is provided under the housing body4, and a pair of power male terminals (terminals for power)9and9shown inFIGS. 18 and 19Bare provided in the terminal hood portion8in a state of being protruded downward. The pair of power male terminals9and9are electrically connected to each other through a fuse10which is shown inFIGS. 19A and 4and is housed in the housing body4.

A pair of guide pins11and11are protruded from outer walls of the housing body4, and each of the guide pins11and11has a substantially ellipsoidal shape obtained by cutting upper and lower ends of a circular cylinder shape. Specifically, long-width portions and short-width portions are composed. Then, guide grooves20of the lever2, which are described later, are individually engaged with the pair of guide pins11and11.

Moreover, a pair of substantially hemispherical engaging protrusions (convex portions)12and12are protruded from the outer walls of the housing body4, and each of the engaging protrusions12and12is provided on a flexible arm portion14formed between a pair of slits13and13of the outer wall of the housing body4. The pair of engaging protrusions12and12are ones which hold the lever2at a predetermined position by being inserted into first engaging holes22and second engaging holes23of the lever2, which are described later. Each engaging protrusion12is easily displaced in an inward direction of the housing body4due to an elastic flexible deformation of the flexible arm portion14. Furthermore, a pair of lever-path adjusting guide grooves15and15are provided on the outer walls of the housing body4. One of step side faces (denoted by reference numeral15a) forming the respective lever-path adjusting guide grooves15and15is formed of a vertical step side face extended in a vertical direction, a horizontal step side face extended in a horizontal direction, and a circular arc step side face connecting these side faces in a circular arc shape. Then, with the pair of lever-path adjusting guide grooves15and15, a pair of lever-path adjusting guide pins24and24of the other connector housing3, which are described later, are engaged. The pair of lever-path adjusting guide pins24and24are slid along the step side faces15aof the lever-path adjusting guide grooves15.

Moreover, a pair of lever rotation stopper portions16and16are protruded from the housing body4. The pair of lever rotation stopper portions16and16regulate rotation of the lever2such that the lever2is rotatable between an operation start position ofFIGS. 23 and 24, where the lever2is erected vertically to the one connector housing1, and a rotation completion position ofFIG. 27, where the lever2is set parallel to the one connector housing1.

As shown inFIGS. 15 to 19B, the lever2includes a pair of arm plate portions18aand18barranged in parallel at an interval, and an operating portion19coupling the pair of arm plate portions18aand18bto each other. In the pair of arm plate portions18aand18b, the guide grooves20extended in the horizontal direction are provided at positions symmetric to each other. Into the respective guide grooves20, the pair of guide pins11and11of the one connector housing1are individually inserted. Each of the guide grooves20is composed of a circular arc portion20aon one end side, and of a linear straight portion20bcommunicating therewith. A diameter of the circular arc portion20ais somewhat larger than a diameter of circular arc portions (long-width portions) of the guide pin11, and a width of the straight portion20bis somewhat larger than a width of the cut portions (short-width portions) of the guide pin11. The guide grooves20are provided in such a way. Then, in the lever2, in rotation positions other than the rotation completion position shown inFIG. 27, the guide pins11are enabled to be arranged only in the circular arc portions20a, and a rotational movement thereof between the operation start position ofFIGS. 23 and 24and the rotation completion position ofFIG. 27is allowed. In the rotation completion position ofFIG. 27, the guide pins11are allowed to slide from the circular arc portions20aof the guide grooves20to the straight portions20b, and a linear sliding movement thereof between the rotation completion position ofFIG. 27and the operation completion position ofFIG. 28is allowed. As described above, the lever2is provided so as to rotationally move and linearly move with respect to the one connector housing1.

Moreover, in the pair of arm plate portions18aand18b, cam grooves21are provided at positions symmetric to each other. Into the pair of cam grooves21and21, cam pins36of the other connector housing3, which are described later, are inserted when the one connector housing1is attached to the other connector housing3. The respective cam grooves21have one ends serving as opening portions open to end surfaces of the arm plate portions18aand18b. Each of the cam grooves21is composed of a bent portion21bvaried in a direction where a distance r from the circular arc portion20aof the guide groove20is made gradually closer as the bent portion21bgoes toward a deep recess thereof from the opening portion21a, and of a straight portion21carranged in parallel to the straight portion20bof the guide groove20.

Furthermore, in the case where the lever2is vertically erected as shown inFIG. 23, an upper sidewall surface of the opening portion21ais formed, as shown inFIGS. 24 and 25, as a sidewall stopper surface17of the cam groove21, on which the cam pin36is made to abut, when the one connector housing1is inserted into the other connector housing3without using the lever2and both thereof are set at a temporal connector-fitting position. Specifically, the cam pin36is inhibited from being inserted more at this stage, and only by the operation of the lever2, the cam pin will be inserted more.

Moreover, in each of the pair of arm plate portions18aand18b, the first engaging hole (concave portion)22and the second engaging hole (concave portion)23are individually provided at positions symmetric to the others. Each of the engaging protrusions12of the one connector housing1is inserted into the first engaging hole22and the second engaging hole23. At the operation start position (rotation start position) where the lever2is erected vertically to the one connector housing1, the engaging protrusion12is inserted into the first engaging hole22, and thus a position of the lever2is maintained at the operation start position (rotation start position). Furthermore, at the operation completion position where the lever2is set parallel to the one connector housing1, the engaging protrusion12is inserted into the second engaging hole23, and thus the position of the lever2is maintained at the operation completion position. Note that, because the rotation completion position of the lever2is an operation midstream position, an engagement of the engaging protrusion12is not performed.

Furthermore, in inner walls of the pair of arm plate portions18aand18b, the pair of lever-path adjusting guide pins24and24are individually provided. The pair of lever-path adjusting guide pins24and24are engaged with the pair of lever-path adjusting guide grooves15and15of the one connector housing1.

On a lower portion of the operating portion19, a pin holding portion25is provided, and in the pin holding portion25, a short pin26which is a fitting sensing terminal is held. The short pin26is composed of contact portions arranged in substantially parallel at an interval and a coupling short portion coupling the pair of contact portions to each other, and is formed of a conductive material which is formed into a substantially U-shape and rich in elasticity. Moreover, in the operation portion19, a finger insertion hole27is provided, and a size of the finger insertion hole27is set at an extent where only one finger of an operator can barely be inserted thereinto.

As shown inFIGS. 20,21A and21B, the other connector housing3has a substantially rectangular shape in which an upper surface is opened, and an inner space thereof serves as an attachment space30of the one connector housing1. In a bottom surface portion31becoming a lower surface of the attachment space30, bolt insertion holes32shown inFIG. 26are formed. By bolts33inserted into the bolt insertion holes32, the other connector housing3is fixed to an unillustrated desired attachment surface.

Moreover, on the bottom surface portion31becoming the lower surface of the attachment space30, terminal hood/housing portions34are integrally provided in a state of being protruded in the vertical direction. In the terminal hood/housing portions34, a pair of power female terminals (terminals for power)35and35which are shown inFIGS. 20,21A and21B are individually housed. When the one connector housing1is lowered from above and moved closer to the other connector housing3, the pair of power male terminals9and9of the one connector housing1enter the terminal hood/housing portions34, and are brought into contact with the pair of power female terminals35and35. Moreover, when the mutual power terminals9and35are in a contact state with each other and the one connector housing1is moved away from the other connector housing3and drawn upward, the pair of power male terminals9and9exit the terminal hood/housing portions34, and are brought into non-contact with the pair of power female terminals35and35.

Moreover, to the respective power female terminals35, one end sides of lead wires39aare connected. One of the lead wires39aand the other thereof are guided to a load unit40side of a power supply circuit D and a power supply unit41side of the power supply circuit D, respectively. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 22, a power switch SW1of the power supply circuit D is composed of the power male terminals9and the power female terminals35of both of the connector housings1and3.

Moreover, from the symmetric positions of an inner peripheral wall of the other connector housing3, the pair of cam pins36and36are protruded. The pair of cam pins36and36are inserted into the cam grooves21of the lever2when the one connector housing1is attached to the other connector housing3. Furthermore, on one side face portion of the other connector housing3, a pair of bus bars37and37are arranged in parallel at an interval. Each of the bus bars37and37is formed of a conductive material high in rigidity and into a flat rod shape. Upper end portions of the pair of bus bars37and37are exposed to the outside from the other connector housing3, and these exposed parts are formed as a pair of male terminals38and38which are fitting sensing terminals. Specifically, the pair of male terminals38and38are formed by utilizing the pair of bus bars37and37. Then, a fitting sensing switch SW2is composed of the pair of male terminals38and38and the short pin26of the lever2. The fitting sensing switch SW2is turned ON in a manner that the short pin26of the lever2is brought into contact with the pair of male terminals38and38, and turned OFF in a non-contact state of the short pin26of the lever2. To the pair of male terminals38and38, lead wires39bare individually connected, and both of the lead wires39bare guided to a relay circuit42in the power supply circuit D.

Next, the power supply circuit D is described. As shown inFIG. 22, the power supply circuit D includes the load unit40, and the power supply unit41which supplies electric power to the load unit40. To the load unit40and the power supply unit41, the power switch SW1, which is formed of the power terminals9and35of both of the connector housings1and3, and the relay circuit42, are connected in series. The relay circuit42is an electric circuit which is turned ON when the fitting sensing switch SW2is ON and turned OFF when the fitting sensing switch SW2is OFF. The power switch SW1formed of the power terminals9and35of both of the connector housings1and3is a mechanical switch as described above.

Next, an operation of the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker1A is described with reference toFIGS. 23 to 30C.FIG. 23is a perspective view showing a state before the one connector housing is temporarily fitted to the other connector housing.FIG. 24is a perspective view showing a temporal connector-fitting position in a process of attaching the one connector housing to the other connector housing in a state where the lever is located at the operation start position.FIG. 25is a partially cutaway front view showing the same position in the same state as those ofFIG. 24.FIG. 26is a cross-sectional view showing the same position in the same state as those ofFIG. 24, in which the lever is omitted.FIG. 27is a perspective view showing the temporal connector-fitting position in the process of attaching the one connector housing to the other connector housing in a state where the lever is located at the rotation completion position.FIG. 28is a perspective view showing a state where the attachment of the one connector housing to the other connector housing is completed.FIG. 29Ais a front view showing a state where the lever is located between the operation start position and the rotation completion position, explaining a moving process of cam pins when the one connector housing is attached to the other connector housing.FIG. 29Bis a front view showing a state where the lever is located at the rotation completion position, explaining the moving process of the cam pins in a similar way toFIG. 29A.FIG. 29Cis a front view showing a state where the lever is located at the operation completion position, explaining the moving process of the cam pins in a similar way toFIG. 29A.FIG. 30Ais a front view showing a state where the lever is located between the operation start position and the rotation completion position, explaining a moving process of the lever-path adjusting guide pins when the one connector housing is attached to the other connector housing.FIG. 30Bis a front view showing a state where the lever is located at the rotation completion position, explaining the moving process of the lever-path adjusting guide pins in a similar way toFIG. 30A.FIG. 30Cis a front view showing a state where the lever is located at the operation completion position, explaining the moving process of the lever-path adjusting guide pins in a similar way toFIG. 30A.

First, an operation of bringing the power supply circuit D into a conductive state by the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker1A is described. As shown inFIG. 23, the lever2is set at the operation start position, and the one connector housing1is inserted into the attachment space30from above the other connector housing3. Then, the terminal hood portion8of the one connector housing1is inserted into the terminal hood/housing portion34of the other connector housing3while being fitted thereto. Moreover, the pair of cam pins36and36of the other connector housing3are inserted into the pair of cam grooves21and21of the lever2. Then, as shown inFIGS. 24 and 25, the pair of cam pins36and36enter the respective opening portions21aof the pair of cam grooves21and21, and the pair of cam pins36and36are made to abut against the sidewall stopper surfaces17of the pair of cam grooves21and21. Thus, both of the connector housings1and3are set at the temporal connector-fitting position. At this temporal connector-fitting position, the respective power terminals9and35of both of the connector housings1and3are not brought into contact with each other yet.

Next, when the lever2is rotated in a direction of an arrow A1ofFIG. 24, the lever2is rotated about the pair of guide pins11and11from the operation start position ofFIG. 24to the rotation completion position ofFIG. 27. Moreover, as shown inFIG. 29A, the pair of cam pins36and36of the other connector housing3are moved in the pair of cam grooves21and21of the lever2. Thus, the one connector housing1gradually approaches and enters the inside of the other connector housing3. Then, the respective power terminals9and35of both of the connector housings1and3are brought into contact with each other before the lever2is located at the rotation completion position, and at the rotation completion position of the lever2, both of the connector housings1and3reach the connector-fitting position.

Next, when the lever2is slid in a direction of an arrow B1ofFIG. 27, the pair of guide pins11and11are slid in the pair of guide grooves20and20of the lever2. In addition, as shown inFIGS. 29B and 29C, the pair of cam pins36and36of the other connector housing3are slid in the pair of cam grooves21and21of the lever2, and thus the lever2is slid (linearly moved) from the rotation completion position ofFIG. 27to the operation completion position ofFIG. 28. The short pin26of the lever2is brought into contact with the pair of male terminals38and38of the other connector housing3before the lever2is located at the fitting completion position by the sliding movement. Then, when the fitting sensing switch SW2is turned ON, the relay circuit42is turned ON, and thus the power supply circuit D is brought into the conductive state for the first time.

In the above-described operation, in the process of rotationally moving the lever2from the operation start position to the rotation completion position, the respective terminals9and35of both of the connector housings1and3are brought into the contact state with each other, and the power switch SW1is turned ON, but the power supply circuit D is still non-conductive. In the process of sliding (linearly moving) the lever2from the rotation completion position to the operation completion position, the fitting sensing switch SW2is turned ON, and thus the relay circuit42is turned ON to bring the power supply circuit D into the conductive state for the first time. Therefore, the power supply circuit D can be prevented from being brought into the conductive state halfway through the operation of the lever2.

Next, an operation of bringing the power supply circuit D in the conductive state into a non-conductive state, that is, breaking the power supply by the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker1A is described. In the state ofFIG. 28, when the lever2is slid in a direction of an arrow B2ofFIG. 28, the pair of guide pins11and11are slid in the pair of guide grooves20and20of the lever2, and the pair of cam pins36and36of the other connector housing3are slid in the pair of cam grooves21and21of the lever2. Thus, the lever2is slid from the operation completion position ofFIG. 28to the rotation completion position ofFIG. 27. Before the lever2is located at the rotation completion position by this sliding movement, the short pin26of the lever2is separated from the pair of male terminals38and38of the other connector housing3, and is brought into the non-contact state therewith. Then, when the fitting sensing switch SW2is turned OFF, the relay circuit42is turned OFF, and at this point of time, the power supply circuit D has already been brought into the non-conductive state.

Next, when the lever2is rotated in a direction of an arrow A2ofFIG. 27, the lever2is rotated about the pair of guide pins11and11from the rotation completion position ofFIG. 27to the operation start position ofFIGS. 24 and 25. Moreover, the pair of cam pins36and36of the other connector housing3are moved in the pair of cam grooves21and21of the lever2, and thus the one connector housing1is gradually moved upward so as to be separated from the other connector housing3, and is drawn therefrom. Then, before the lever2is located at the operation start position, the respective power terminals9and35of both of the connector housings1and3are brought into the non-contact state with each other, and at the operation start position of the lever2, both of the connector housings1and3are located at the temporal connector-fitting position.

In the above-described operation, in the process of linearly moving the lever2from the operation completion position to the rotation completion position, the fitting sensing switch SW2is turned OFF, and thus the relay circuit42is turned OFF to bring the power supply circuit D into the non-conductive state. In the process of rotationally moving the lever2from the rotation completion position to the operation start position, the power switch SW1between the respective power terminals9and35of both of the connector housings1and3is brought into a separated state. Thus, there is a time lag from the time when the power supply circuit D is turned OFF to the time when the power switch SW1between the respective power terminals9and35of both of the connector housings1and3is separated, and a discharge time is sufficiently ensured. Therefore, an arc discharge between the respective power terminals9and35of both of the connector housings1and3can be prevented.

Note that, when it is desired to separate the one connector housing1completely from the other connector housing3, the one connector housing1is taken out from above the other connector housing3.

As described above, in the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker1A, the fitting sensing switch SW2is composed of the pair of fitting sensing male terminals38and38and the short pin26, which can accordingly be installed in small installation spaces of the other connector housing3and the lever2, respectively. Hence, the other connector housing3and the lever2can be downsized, and eventually, the lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker1A can be downsized. Moreover, a structure of the fitting sensing switch SW2is simple, and accordingly, the fitting sensing switch SW2can be manufactured at low cost.

In the above-described embodiment, the pair of male terminals38and38are formed by utilizing the pair of bus bars37and37arranged in the other connector housing3, the short pin26is formed into the substantially U-shape, and a structure is constructed such that the short pin26sandwiches the pair of male terminals38and38from both outsides thereof to contact the same male terminals38and38. Hence, the short pin26of the substantially U-shape can be brought into contact with the pair of bus bars37and37with large pressing force because the short pin26sandwiches the bus bars37and37to contact the same bus bars37and37. Accordingly, a highly reliable conductive state can be obtained. Moreover, a linear stroke in which the short pin26is brought into contact/non-contact with the pair of male terminals38and38can be shortened as compared with that of the conventional male/female terminal structure, and accordingly, a stroke of the linear operation of the lever2can be shortened.

In the above-described embodiment, the lever2includes the pair of arm plate portions18aand18barranged at an interval, and the operating portion19coupling the pair of arm plate portions18aand18bto each other, and the short pin26is provided in the operating portion19. Accordingly, the short pin26can be installed without increasing the width of the lever2.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the cam grooves21and the cam pins36are provided in the lever2and the other connector housing3, respectively. However, in a reverse order to this, the cam grooves21and the cam pins36may be provided in the other connector housing3and the lever2, respectively. Thus, a degree of freedom in design will be enhanced. Furthermore, though the guide grooves20and the guide pins11are provided in the lever2and the one connector housing1, respectively, the guide grooves20and the guide pins11may be provided in the one connector housing1and the lever2, respectively, in the reverse order to the above. Thus, the degree of freedom in design is enhanced.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the lever2is provided in the one connector housing1so as to be freely rotationally movable and freely linearly movable, and the lever2is moved from the operation start position to the operation completion position by the rotational movement and the linear movement (sliding movement). However, the present invention is also applicable to one which moves the lever2from the operation start position to the operation completion position only by the rotational movement or one which moves the lever2from the operation start position to the operation completion position only by the linear movement (sliding movement). A device, in which the lever2moves from the operation start position to the operation completion position only by the rotational movement, is formed such that the power switch is turned ON in a first half of the rotational movement process of the lever2, and that the fitting sensing switch SW2is turned ON in a second half of the rotational movement process.