Connector having a housing with a drainage hole leading to an outside of the connector

In a connector which accommodates female terminals in a plurality of female terminal accommodating chambers arranged side by side in a connector housing, each of the plurality of female terminal accommodating chambers in the connector housing has a protruding enclosure wall provided in such a way that walls enclosing the outer periphery of each female terminal protrude towards a direction of connector engagement with a connection mating connector accommodating male terminals which connect to each of the female terminals. Further, an inter-terminal through hole which penetrates through the inside of the connector housing and connects to the outside of the connector housing is formed in a wall coupling base ends of the protruding enclosure walls of at least one group of adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector which accommodates female terminals in a plurality of female terminal accommodating chambers arranged side by side in a connector housing, and a connector engagement structure of the connector and a connection mating connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a connector that is arranged in fuel and used as a power supply connector of a fuel pump or the like is liquid-tight so that the fuel does not invade into a connector housing. However, since it is difficult to completely suppress the invasion of the fuel into the connector housing, a configuration in which a leakage current hardly occurs even when the fuel invaded into the connector housing is applied.

Patent Document 1 describes an electrical connector for a fuel tank in which a base support portion is provided at a base of a terminal (male terminal), and a support inclined portion for causing water droplets to flow downward is provided at a coupling portion with the terminal (male terminal) at an upper end of the base support portion.

In addition, Patent Document 2 describes a connector engagement structure in which a block is provided in such a way that walls enclosing the outer periphery of each female terminal protrude towards a direction of connector engagement with a connection mating connector which accommodates male terminals, to be connected to each of the female terminals, in each of a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers, and a partition wall of the connection mating connector is fitted between the blocks so as to make a gap therebetween as small as possible, so that fuel hardly invades into the vicinity of the male and female terminals.

Patent Document 1: JP 2008-243569 A

Patent Document 2: JP 2011-220191 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the connectors described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when fuel invaded in a state of connector engagement with the connection mating connector, the fuel invaded between the terminals tends to remain and may cause a leakage current, therefore, it cannot be said that the leakage current is reliably prevented.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector and a connector engagement structure which can reliably prevent the occurrence of a leakage current even when a material causing a leakage current invaded between the terminals.

To solve the above problems and achieve the object, the connector and the connector engagement structure according to the present invention are characterized in the following configurations (1) to (5).

(1) A connector which accommodates female terminals in a plurality of female terminal accommodating chambers arranged side by side in a connector housing,

wherein the connector housing has:

a protruding enclosure wall provided at each of the female terminal accommodating chambers in such a way that walls enclosing an outer periphery of each female terminal protrude towards a direction of connector engagement with a connection mating connector; and

a coupling wall configured to couple base ends of the protruding enclosure walls of at least one group of the female terminal accommodating chambers adjacent to each other, and

wherein an inter-terminal through hole which penetrates through an inside of the connector housing and is communicated to an outside of the connector housing is formed in the coupling wall.

(2) The connector according to (1), wherein the inter-terminal through hole is formed along a direction in which a material causing a leakage current invaded into the hole is discharged to the outside of the connector housing due to the own weight thereof.

(3) A connector engagement structure of the connector according to (1) or (2) and the connection mating connector which connects male terminals in a male terminal side connector housing with the female terminals of the connector by the connector engagement with the connector,

wherein the male terminal side connector housing of the connection mating connector includes:

a male terminal holding wall configured to hold the male terminals so as to protrude towards a direction of connector engagement; and

a partition wall erected on the male terminal holding wall and partitioning the adjacent male terminals, and

wherein, in a state of connector engagement with the connector, the partition wall is formed to be fitted between the protruding enclosure walls of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers and to be fitted to the base ends of the protruding enclosure walls.

(4) The connector engagement structure according to (3), including:

a hood-shaped wall erected on the male terminal holding wall in a hood shape and forming a fitting opening for fitting the connector housing at an end portion thereof; and

a pair of guide ribs respectively extending from the fitting opening along the direction of connector engagement inwardly on opposite inner wall surfaces of the hood-shaped wall,

wherein extending ends of the pair of guide ribs are coupled to both ends of the partition wall formed so as to extend to both ends of the male terminal holding wall, and

wherein the connector housing is formed with a pair of guide grooves extending, on outer wall surfaces opposed to the opposite inner wall surfaces respectively, along the direction of connector engagement so as to engage with the pair of guide ribs.

(5) The connector engagement structure according to (3) or (4),

wherein, in a state of connector engagement of the connector and the connection mating connector, the outer wall surface of the connector housing has a protruding part located at the vicinity of an end face of the male terminal side connector housing at a fitting opening side, and

wherein at least one of the protruding part and a part of the male terminal side connector housing around the protruding part is formed with a leading surface which leads the material causing a leakage current in a direction in which the material is discharged due to the own weight thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a connector and a connector engagement structure according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment

FIG. 1Ais a perspective view showing a state before female terminals11of a connector10according to an embodiment of the present invention are inserted into a connector housing20, andFIG. 1Bis a front view of the connector housing20shown inFIG. 1A.FIG. 2is a view of the connector housing20shown inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1Bas viewed from an oblique side.FIG. 3Ais a perspective view of a connection mating connector30used in a connector engagement structure1according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 3Bis a front view of the connection mating connector30shown inFIG. 3A.FIG. 4is a perspective view of the connector10and the connection mating connector30which are connector engaged.FIG. 5is a sectional view taken along a line A-A of the connector engaged connector10and connection mating connector30shown inFIG. 4.FIG. 6is a view of the connector10as viewed from a terminal insertion opening side.FIG. 7Ais a sectional view taken along the line A-A of the connector10shown inFIG. 6, andFIG. 7Bis an enlarged view of the vicinity of openings22aon a side where female terminals11of female terminal accommodating chambers21of the connector10shown inFIG. 7Ais connected with male terminals31.FIG. 8Ais a sectional view taken along the line B-B of the connector10shown inFIG. 6, andFIG. 8Bis an enlarged view of the vicinity of the openings22aon a side where female terminals11of female terminal accommodating chambers21of the connector10shown inFIG. 8Ais connected with male terminals31.FIG. 9is a view showing a state when the connector10and the connection mating connector30are connector engaged in an engagement direction other than a regular engagement direction.

The connector engagement structure1according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, for example, as a power connection connector of a fuel pump (not shown) and is used in a state of being immersed in fuel F in a fuel tank (not shown).

As shown inFIG. 1A, the connector10accommodates the female terminals11of terminal-equipped wires W in each of female terminal accommodating chambers21of the connector housing20.

The connector housing20is made of insulating synthetic resin, and formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole.

The connector housing20has four female terminal accommodating chambers21, and each of the female terminal accommodating chambers21has a protruding enclosure wall22provided in such a way that walls enclosing the outer periphery of each female terminal11protrude towards a direction of connector engagement D1with a connection mating connector30accommodating the male terminals31which respectively connect to the female terminals11. In addition, the connector housing20has a wall22dwhich couples base ends22cof the protruding enclosure walls22of at least one group of adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21, and an inter-terminal through hole23which penetrates through the inside of the connector housing20and connects to the outside of the connector housing20is formed in the wall22d.

Further, the connector housing20has an elastic engagement arm24which engages with a male terminal side connector housing40described later of the connection mating connector30at a connector engagement position, and pressing operation portions25which are operation portions used by an operator to press the connector housing20in the direction of connector engagement.

As shown inFIG. 1B, the four female terminal accommodating chambers21are arranged side by side in vertical and horizontal directions. Each of the female terminal accommodating chambers21is configured to lock each female terminal11at a predetermined position by an elastic locking arm21aprovided inside of each female terminal accommodating chamber21.

Each protruding enclosure wall22is a wall configured to form a front end portion of each female terminal accommodating chamber21in the engagement direction, and is formed into a substantially rectangular tube shape so as to enclose the outer periphery of each female terminal11.

Each protruding enclosure wall22is not limited to the substantially rectangular tube shape, and may have other shapes as long as each protruding enclosure wall22can enclose the outer periphery of each female terminal11. For example, when each female terminal11has a circular cross section, each protruding enclosure wall22may have a substantially cylindrical shape.

The protruding enclosure walls22are configured such that the male terminals31of the connection mating connector30are inserted from the openings22aof a front end face in the engagement direction.

The inter-terminal through holes23are formed at three positions of the connector housing20.

Two inter-terminal through holes23among the three inter-terminal through holes23are formed between the female terminal accommodating chambers21arranged side by side in a horizontal direction inFIG. 1. In addition, the one remaining inter-terminal through hole23is formed substantially at a center of the connector housing20.

The inter-terminal through holes23are formed along a direction in which fuel F which is the material causing a leakage current invaded into the hole is discharged to the outside of the connector housing20due to the own weight thereof.

In the present embodiment, since the direction of connector engagement D1of the connector10is a vertical direction, the inter-terminal through holes23are formed so as to penetrate through the connector housing20in the vertical direction. By forming the inter-terminal through holes23in the connector housing20, the fuel F invaded between the female terminals11is discharged outwardly through the inter-terminal through holes23as indicated by an arrow R1inFIG. 5.

Further, in the present embodiment, even though an example is exemplified in which the inter-terminal through holes23are formed at three positions of the connector housing20, the number of the inter-terminal through holes23is not limited to three, and may be one as long as the inter-terminal through holes23are formed on the wall22dcoupling base ends22cof the protruding enclosure walls22of at least one group of adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21.

The elastic engagement arm24has an elastic arm24aprovided on one side surface of the connector housing20, and an engagement protrusion24bprovided on the elastic arm24a.

The elastic engagement arm24locks the connector housing20and the male terminal side connector housing40at the connector engagement position by engaging the engagement protrusion24bwith an engagement hole40dof the male terminal side connector housing40.

In a state of connector engagement of the connector10and the connection mating connector30, the pressing operation portions25are provided so as to protrude towards an outer wall surface20aof the connector housing20at the vicinity of the end face of the male terminal side connector housing40at a fitting opening40aside.

Each pressing operation portion25is formed with, on the protruding part, a leading surface25cwhich leads the fuel F in a direction in which the fuel F is discharged due to the own weight thereof.

More specifically, each of the pressing operation portions25has a coupling portion25awhich is a part coupled to the outer wall surface20aof the connector housing20and an operation portion25bwhich is a part to be pressed by an operator, and the leading surface25cis formed on the coupling portion25a.

By forming such leading surfaces25con the connector housing20, even in a case where the connector engaged connector10and connection mating connector30are partially exposed from a liquid surface of the fuel F due to the decrease of the fuel F in the fuel tank (not shown), the fuel F does not remain attached to the pressing operation portions25protruding on the outer wall surface20aof the connector housing20, but is led to the fuel tank by the leading surfaces25cas indicated by arrows R2inFIG. 5.

In addition, the connector housing20is formed with a pair of guide grooves26,26extending, on the outer wall surfaces20aopposed to opposite inner wall surfaces40e,40eof a later-described hood-shaped wall40crespectively, along the direction of connector engagement so as to engage with a pair of guide ribs43,43.

In the present embodiment, an outer shape of the wall22d, configured to be continuous such that the female terminal accommodating chambers21are formed from the base ends22cof the protruding enclosure walls22along the direction of connector engagement, is aligned with an outer shape of each protruding enclosure wall22formed into substantially rectangular tube shape, so that each guide groove26is formed between each of female terminal accommodating chambers21along the direction of connector engagement.

In such connector10, since each opening22aat a side where each female terminal11of each of the female terminal accommodating chambers21is connected with each of the male terminals31is formed by each of the protruding enclosure walls22enclosing the outer periphery of each female terminal11, a protruding wall surface of each of the protruding enclosure walls22is configured such that a creepage distance between the adjacent female terminals11is longer.

In addition, since the inter-terminal through holes23are formed in the wall22dcoupling the base ends22cof the protruding enclosure walls22of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21, an area of the wall coupling the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21is reduced and the fuel F is discharged to the outside of the connector housing20through the inter-terminal through holes23. Accordingly, the fuel F invaded between the female terminals11hardly remains.

Next, the connection mating connector30will be described.

The connection mating connector30has four male terminals31connected to the four female terminals11of the connector10respectively, and the male terminal side connector housing40to be engaged with the connector housing20.

The male terminal side connector housing40is made of insulating synthetic resin, and formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape with one surface serving as the fitting opening40aof the connector10.

The male terminal side connector housing40has a male terminal holding wall40bfor holding the male terminals31to protrude towards the direction of connector engagement. In addition, the partition wall41configured to partition the adjacent male terminals31is erected on the male terminal holding wall40bso as to be fitted between the protruding enclosure walls22of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21and to be fitted to the base ends22cof the protruding enclosure walls22in a state of connector engagement with the connector10.

More specifically, the male terminal side connector housing40has a hood-shaped wall40cwhich is erected on the male terminal holding wall40bin a hood shape. The hood-shaped wall40cforms the fitting opening40aconfigured to fit the connector housing20at an end portion thereof.

The male terminal holding wall40bis configured to hold each male terminal31at a position corresponding to each of the female terminals11accommodated in the four female terminal accommodating chambers21of the connector housing20.

Therefore, as shown inFIG. 3B, the four male terminals31are arranged side by side in vertical and horizontal directions, and held on the male terminal holding wall40b.

The partition wall41is erected on the male terminal holding wall40bin a way of crossing a cross passing through substantially the center of the male terminal holding wall40b.

In addition, the male terminal side connector housing40has the pair of guide ribs43,43on the inner wall surfaces40e,40eopposite to the hood-shaped wall40c. The pair of guide ribs43,43is formed such that extending ends extending inwardly from the fitting opening40aalong the direction of connector engagement are coupled to both ends of the partition wall41formed so as to extend to both ends of the male terminal holding wall40b.

InFIG. 3, each guide rib43is respectively coupled to the end portions of the partition wall41which is erected from one end to the other end of the male terminal holding wall40bin the horizontal direction in a way of passing through substantially the center of the male terminal holding wall40b.

In addition, the male terminal side connector housing40is continuously provided with the guide ribs43and the partition wall41on the inner wall surfaces40ealong a horseshoe-shaped cross-sectional outline, so that the strength of the hood-shaped wall40cis increased.

In such connector engagement structure1of the connector10and the connection mating connector30, the openings22aare formed, on the connector housing20at the side where the female terminals11of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21are connected with the male terminals31, by the protruding enclosure walls22enclosing the outer peripheries of the female terminals. Moreover, the partition wall41for partitioning the adjacent male terminals31is provided in the male terminal side connector housing40so as to be fitted between the protruding enclosure walls22of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21and to be fitted to the base ends22cof the protruding enclosure walls22. Therefore, as shown by a line L inFIGS. 7B and 8B, the protruding wall surfaces of the protruding enclosure walls22and the wall surface of the partition wall41are configured such that the creepage distance between the adjacent male and female terminals is longer.

In addition, when the connector10and the connection mating connector30are connector engaged, the connector housing20and the male terminal side connector housing40can be engaged while maintaining the regular posture by the guide function in the direction of connector engagement due to the engagement of the guide grooves26and the guide ribs43.

As shown inFIG. 9, in the connector engagement structure1, when the connector engagement is performed in an engagement direction other than the regular engagement direction, that is, when a so-called prying engagement is performed, the guide ribs43formed up to the end faces of the fitting opening40aof the male terminal side connector housing40prevents the invasion of the connector housing20. Accordingly, the connector housing20can be prevented from coming into contact with the male terminals31.

In the connector10according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the protruding enclosure walls22are formed to enclose the outer peripheries of the female terminals11, the protruding wall surface of each of the protruding enclosure wall22is configured such that the creepage distance between the adjacent female terminals11is longer. Moreover, since the inter-terminal through holes23are formed in the wall22dcoupling the female terminal accommodating chambers21, the area of the wall22dcoupling the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21is reduced and the fuel F causing a leakage current is discharged to the outside of the connector housing20through the inter-terminal through holes23. Therefore, the material causing a leakage current invaded into the female terminals11hardly remains and the occurrence of a leakage current can be reliably prevented even when the material causing a leakage current invaded between the terminals.

In the connector10according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the inter-terminal through holes23are formed along the direction in which the fuel F invaded into the hole is discharged to the outside of the connector housing20due to the own weight, the material causing a leakage current invaded between the female terminals11can be easily discharged to the outside of the connector housing20due to the own weight thereof.

In the connector10according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the inter-terminal through holes23are configured to penetrate through the connector housing20in the vertical direction, the fuel F can be reliably discharged from the inter-terminal through holes23due to the own weight thereof.

In addition, in the connector engagement structure1according to the embodiment of the present invention, the openings22aare formed, on the connector housing20at the side where the female terminals11of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21are connected with the male terminals31, by the protruding enclosure walls22enclosing the outer peripheries of the female terminals11, and the partition wall41for partitioning the adjacent male terminals31is provided in the male terminal side connector housing40so as to be fitted between the protruding enclosure walls22of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21and to be fitted to the base ends22cof the protruding enclosure walls22. Thereby, the protruding wall surfaces of the protruding enclosure walls22and the wall surface of the partition wall41are configured such that the creepage distance between the adjacent male and female terminals is longer. Moreover, since the inter-terminal through holes23are formed in the wall22dcoupling the female terminal accommodating chambers21, the area of the wall22dcoupling the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21is reduced and the fuel F causing a leakage current is discharged to the outside of the connector housing20through the inter-terminal through holes23, and therefore, the fuel F invaded between the male and female terminals hardly remains. Therefore, the occurrence of a leakage current can be reliably prevented even when the material causing a leakage current invaded between the terminals.

In addition, in the connector engagement structure1according to the embodiment of the present invention, the connector housing20and the male terminal side connector housing40can be engaged in the regular posture by the guide function due to the engagement of the pair of guide grooves26,26and the pair of guide ribs43,43. Moreover, since the pair of guide ribs43,43and the partition wall41are continuously provided from one end side to the other end side of the cross-sectional outline of the male terminal side connector housing40, the strength of the entire male terminal side connector housing40including the hood-shaped wall40ccan be increased.

In addition, in the connector engagement structure1according to the embodiment of the present invention, in a state of connector engagement of the connector10and the connection mating connector30, there are the pressing operation portions25which are the protruding part on the outer wall surface20aof the connector housing20at the vicinity of the end face of the male terminal side connector housing40at the fitting opening40aside, and the pressing operation portions25are formed with the leading surfaces25cwhich lead the fuel F in the direction in which the fuel F is discharged due to the own weight thereof. Accordingly, the fuel F can be prevented from remaining attached to the pressing operation portions25, and waste can be eliminated by returning the fuel F to the fuel tank.

Next, the first modification of the connector engagement structure1according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 10Ais a perspective view showing a state before the female terminal11of a connector of the first modification is inserted into a connector housing60, andFIG. 10Bis a front view of the connector housing60shown inFIG. 10A.FIG. 11Ais a perspective view of a connection mating connector70used in a connector engagement structure2of the first modification, andFIG. 11Bis a front view of the connection mating connector70shown inFIG. 11A.

The connector engagement structure2of the first modification is different from the connector engagement structure1of the embodiment, in which only two female terminal accommodating chambers21are provided in the connector housing60, two female terminals11are respectively accommodated in the female terminal accommodating chambers21, and a male terminal side connector housing80corresponds to the connector housing60and is configured to hold two male terminals31.

Other configurations in the first modification are the same as those in the embodiment, and same reference numerals are given to same constituent parts as in the embodiment.

Like the connector engagement structure1of the embodiment, in the connector engagement structure2of the first modification, openings22aare formed, on the connector housing60at a side where female terminals11of adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21are connected with male terminals31, by the protruding enclosure walls22enclosing outer peripheries of the female terminals11, and the partition wall41for partitioning adjacent male terminals31is provided in the male terminal side connector housing80so as to be fitted between the protruding enclosure walls22of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21and to be fitted to the base ends22cof the protruding enclosure walls22. Thereby, the protruding wall surfaces of the protruding enclosure walls22and a wall surface of the partition wall41are configured such that a creepage distance between adjacent male and female terminals is longer, and since the inter-terminal through hole23is formed on the wall22dcoupling the female terminal accommodating chambers21, an area of the wall22dcoupling the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers21is reduced and the fuel F causing a leakage current is discharged to the outside of the connector housing60through the inter-terminal through hole23. Accordingly, since the fuel F invaded between the male and female terminals hardly remains, the occurrence of a leakage current can be reliably prevented even when a material causing a leakage current invaded between the terminals.

Next, the second modification of the connector engagement structure1according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 12.

FIG. 12is a sectional view showing a state of connector engagement of the connector10and a connection mating connector90.

A connector engagement structure3of the second modification is different from the connector engagement structure1of the embodiment, in which leading surfaces110which lead fuel F in a direction in which the fuel F is discharged due to the own weight thereof are formed in a male terminal side connector housing100.

Other configurations in the second modification are the same as those in the embodiment, and same reference numerals are given to same constituent parts as in the embodiment.

In the connector engagement structure3, the leading surfaces110for leading the fuel F which is a material causing a leakage current in the direction in which the fuel F is discharged due to the own weight thereof are not only formed on the connector housing20, but also formed on the male terminal side connector housing100.

The connector engagement structure3of the second modification has the same effect as the connector engagement structure1of the embodiment, and since the leading surfaces25c,110are respectively formed on the connector housing20and the male terminal side connector housing100, the fuel F does not remain attached to the pressing operation portions25protruding on the outer wall surface20aof the connector housing20, and is easily led to a fuel tank by the leading surfaces25c,110.

Although the connector engagement structures1,2and3according to the embodiment, the first modification and the second modification of the present invention are exemplified for use as power connection connectors of a fuel pump, the structures are not limited thereto, and the same effect can be obtained as long as the structures are used in a connector to be used in an environment in which a material causing a leakage current is likely to invade inter-terminals.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been concretely described based on the above described embodiments of the invention, the present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments of the invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Here, characteristics of the embodiments of the connector and connector engagement structure according to the present invention described above are summarized briefly in the following [1] to [5] separately.

[1] A connector (10) which accommodates female terminals (11) in a plurality of female terminal accommodating chambers (21) arranged side by side in a connector housing (20),

wherein the connector housing has:

a protruding enclosure wall (22) provided at each of the female terminal accommodating chambers in such a way that walls enclosing an outer periphery of each female terminal protrude towards a direction of connector engagement with a connection mating connector; and

a coupling wall (22d) configured to couple base ends (22c) of the protruding enclosure walls of at least one group of the female terminal accommodating chambers adjacent to each other, and

wherein an inter-terminal through hole (23) which penetrates through the inside of the connector housing and is communicated to an outside of the connector housing is formed in the coupling wall.

[2] The connector according to [1], wherein the inter-terminal through hole is formed along a direction in which a material (fuel F) causing a leakage current invaded into the hole is discharged to the outside of the connector housing due to the own weight thereof.
[3] A connector engagement structure of the connector according to [1] or [2] and the connection mating connector which connects male terminals (31) in a male terminal side connector housing (40) with the female terminals of the connector by the connector engagement with the connector,

wherein the male terminal side connector housing of the connection mating connector includes:

a male terminal holding wall (40b) configured to hold the male terminals so as to protrude towards a direction of connector engagement; and

a partition wall (41) erected on the male terminal holding wall and partitioning the adjacent male terminals, and

wherein, in a state of connector engagement with the connector, the partition wall is formed to be fitted between the protruding enclosure walls of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers and to be fitted to the base ends of the protruding enclosure walls.

[4] The connector engagement structure according to [3],

wherein the male terminal side connector housing has:

a hood-shaped wall (40c) erected on the male terminal holding wall in a hood shape and forming a fitting opening (40a) for fitting the connector housing at an end portion thereof; and

a pair of guide ribs (43) respectively extending from the fitting opening along the direction of connector engagement inwardly on opposite inner wall surfaces of the hood-shaped wall,

wherein extending ends of the pair of guide ribs are coupled to both ends of the partition wall formed so as to extend to both ends of the male terminal holding wall, and

wherein the connector housing is formed with a pair of guide grooves (26) extending, on outer wall surfaces opposed to the opposite inner wall surfaces respectively, along the direction of connector engagement so as to engage with the pair of guide ribs.

[5] The connector engagement structure according to [3] or [4],

wherein, in a state of connector engagement of the connector and the connection mating connector, the outer wall surface of the connector housing has a protruding part (pressing operation portion25) located at the vicinity of an end face of the male terminal side connector housing at a fitting opening side, and

wherein at least one of the protruding part and a part of the male terminal side connector housing around the protruding part is formed with a leading surface (25c) which leads the material (fuel F) causing a leakage current in a direction in which the material is discharged due to the own weight thereof.

In the connector according to [1], since each of the protruding enclosure walls is formed to enclose the outer periphery of each female terminal, a protruding wall surface of each of the protruding enclosure walls are configured such that a creepage distance between the adjacent female terminals is longer. Moreover, the inter-terminal through hole is formed in the wall coupling the female terminal accommodating chambers, so that an area of the wall coupling the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers is reduced and the material causing a leakage current is discharged to the outside of the connector housing through the inter-terminal through hole. Furthermore, since the material causing a leakage current invaded into the female terminals hardly remains, the occurrence of a leakage current can be reliably prevented even when the material causing a leakage current invaded between the terminals.

In the connector according to [2], since the inter-terminal through hole is formed along the direction in which the material causing a leakage current invaded into the hole is discharged to the outside of the connector housing due to the own weight, the material causing a leakage current invaded between the female terminals can be easily discharged to the outside of the connector housing due to the own weight thereof.

In the connector engagement structure according to [3], an opening is formed, on the connector housing at a side where the female terminals of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers are connected with the male terminals, by each of the protruding enclosure walls enclosing the outer periphery of each female terminal. Since the partition wall for partitioning the adjacent male terminals is provided in the male terminal side connector housing so as to be fitted between the protruding enclosure walls of the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers and to be fitted to the base ends of the protruding enclosure walls, the protruding wall surfaces of the protruding enclosure walls and a wall surface of the partition wall are configured such that a creepage distance between the adjacent male and female terminals is longer. Moreover, the inter-terminal through hole is formed in the wall coupling the female terminal accommodating chambers, so that the area of the wall coupling the adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers is reduced and the material causing a leakage current is discharged to the outside of the connector housing through the inter-terminal through hole. Furthermore, since the material causing a leakage current invaded between the male and female terminals hardly remains, the occurrence of a leakage current can be reliably prevented even when the material causing a leakage current invaded between the terminals.

In the connector engagement structure according to [4], the connector housing and the male terminal side connector housing can be engaged in a regular posture by a guide function due to the engagement of the pair of guide grooves and the pair of guide ribs, and since the pair of guide ribs and the partition wall are continuously provided from one end side to the other end side of the cross-sectional outline of the male terminal side connector housing, the strength of the entire male terminal side connector housing including the hood-shaped wall can be increased.

In the connector engagement structure according to [5], in a state of connector engagement of the connector and the connection mating connector, when there is a protruding part on the outer wall surface of the connector housing at the vicinity of the end face of the male terminal side connector housing at the fitting opening side, since at least one of the protruding part and a part of the male terminal side connector housing around the protruding part is formed with the leading surface which leads the material causing a leakage current in the direction in which the material is discharged due to the own weight thereof, the material causing a leakage current can be prevented from remaining attached to the protruding part.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector and a connector engagement structure capable of reliably preventing the occurrence of a leakage current even when a material causing a leakage current invaded inter-terminals. The present invention which has this effect is useful for a connector which accommodates female terminals in a plurality of female terminal accommodating chambers arranged side by side in a connector housing, and a connector engagement structure of the connector and a connection mating connector.