Connector with electroconductive member featuring retraction mechanism

A connector includes a housing, an electroconductive member, and a retraction mechanism. The housing includes: a fitting portion to be fit to a counterpart fitting portion of a casing of a device to which the connector is to be connected; and a fixture portion to be secured to a fixture-portion receiving portion of the casing. The fixture portion is brought into contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion during a progress of the fitting of the fitting portion. The electroconductive member includes: a first electrical-connection portion to be brought into contact with a counterpart electrical-connection portion and thereby electrically connected thereto during the progress of the fitting of the fitting portion, the counterpart electrical-connection portion being included in the counterpart fitting portion; and a second electrical-connection portion connected electrically to a terminal of an electric wire. The electroconductive member is accommodated in an interior of the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-049797 filed in Japan on Mar. 15, 2017.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there has been known a connector including an electrical-connection portion that, during the progress of fitting the connector to another connector, makes contact with an electrical-connection portion of the other connector at the same time as respective fixture portions of the housings of these connectors make contact with each other. For example, Japanese Patent No. 6036653 discloses a connector configured so that connection thereof to another connector can be completed by both securing fixture portions of these connectors to each other with screws with these fixtures in contact with each other, and securing electrical-connection portions of these connectors to each other with screws with these electrical-connection portions in contact with each other.

In two connectors to be fit to each other, there are tolerance variations among individual parts, and assembly variations between the parts. In each of the connectors, the position of a fixture portion relative to an electrical-connection portion may be consequently shifted from a designed position. Particularly when both of the connectors are of this type, the electrical-connection portions of the respective connectors may receive excess loads upon completion of the connection therebetween with such positional shifts of the electrical-connection portions relative to the fixture portions caused along directions in which the connectors are fit to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above inconvenience, the present invention is aimed at providing a connector capable of preventing a load from acting on an electrical-connection portion upon completion of connection thereof.

A connector according to one aspect of the present invention includes a housing including a fitting portion to be fit to a counterpart fitting portion of a casing of a device to which the connector is to be connected, and a fixture portion to be secured to a fixture-portion receiving portion of the casing, in which the fixture portion is brought into contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion during a progress of the fitting of the fitting portion; an electroconductive member including a first electrical-connection portion to be brought into contact with a counterpart electrical-connection portion and thereby electrically connected thereto during the progress of the fitting of the fitting portion, the counterpart electrical-connection portion being included in the counterpart fitting portion, and a second electrical-connection portion connected electrically to a terminal of an electric wire, and accommodated in an interior of the housing; and a retraction mechanism configured to, when the first electrical-connection portion makes contact with the counterpart electrical-connection portion before the fixture portion makes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion, enable the electroconductive member and a terminal of the electric wire to be retracted, until the fixture portion makes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion, with the first electrical-connection portion kept in contact with the counterpart electrical-connection portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the connector further includes a male screw member and a female screw member that are screw members together having a screwing axis set in parallel to directions in which the fitting portion is fit to and pulled out from the counterpart fitting portion, the male screw member and the female screw member being configured to fasten together an electrical-connection portion of a terminal fitting attached to a terminal of the electric wire and the second electrical-connection portion of the electroconductive member, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a protrusion that is a part of one of the male screw member and the female screw member that have been screwed together, the part protruding from the second electrical-connection portion and the electrical-connection portion, and a retraction guide portion formed in the housing and capable of guiding the protrusion in a direction parallel to the screwing axis.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the connector further includes a movement-enabling mechanism configured to enable the electroconductive member and the terminal of the electric wire to move relative to the housing in a direction opposite to a direction in which the retraction mechanism does, wherein, when the first electrical-connection portion is still out of contact with the counterpart electrical-connection portion after the fixture portion makes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion, the movement-enabling mechanism enables the electroconductive member and the terminal of the electric wire to move relative to the housing until the first electrical-connection portion comes in contact with the counterpart electrical-connection portion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the connector further includes a male screw member and a female screw member that are screw members together having a screwing axis set in parallel to directions in which the fitting portion is fit to and pulled out from the counterpart fitting portion, the male screw member and the female screw member being configured to fasten together the electrical-connection portion of the terminal fitting attached to the terminal of the electric wire and the second electrical-connection portion of the electroconductive member, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a protrusion that is a part of a first screw member that is one of the male screw member and the female screw member that have been screwed together, the part protruding from the second electrical-connection portion and the electrical-connection portion, and a retraction guide portion formed in the housing and capable of guiding the protrusion of the first screw member in a direction parallel to the screwing axis, and the movement-enabling mechanism includes a protrusion that is a part of a second screw member that is the other of the male screw member and the female screw member that have been screwed together, the part protruding from the second electrical-connection portion and the electrical-connection portion, and a movement-enabling guide portion formed in the housing and capable of guiding the protrusion of the second screw member in a direction parallel to the screwing axis.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the male screw member and the female screw member that have been screwed together are used with a polygonal head of the male screw member serving as the protrusion of the retraction mechanism and with the polygonal female screw member as a whole serving as the protrusion of the movement-enabling mechanism, the housing includes a first screw accommodating compartment to accommodate the head of the male screw member and a second screw accommodating compartment to accommodate the female screw member, the first screw accommodating compartment is formed in a manner that allows the head to move relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the screwing axis to serve as the retraction guide portion, and the second screw accommodating compartment is formed in a manner that allows the female screw member to move relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the screwing axis to serve as the movement-enabling guide portion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second screw accommodating compartment includes cutouts at corners formed between adjacent ones of inner circumferential faces thereof facing and lying next to individual outer circumferential faces of the female screw member, the cutouts being configured to accommodate corners formed between adjacent ones of the outer circumferential faces of the female screw member, and each of the cutouts has an arc-shaped face that connects the corresponding adjacent two inner circumferential faces.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the fixture portion and the first electrical-connection portion are disposed offset from each other in the directions in which the fitting portion is fit into and pulled out of the counterpart fitting portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following describes an embodiment of a connector according to the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is not intended to limit this invention.

Embodiment

An embodiment of the connector according to the present invention is described with reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 12.

FIG. 1toFIG. 3illustrate a connector1in this embodiment. This connector1is to be connected to a counterpart connector (not illustrated) included in a device (not illustrated; hereinafter referred to as connection-target device) to which the connector1is to be connected through the counterpart connector. For example, in a vehicle (such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle) equipped with a rotating machine as a drive source, the rotating machine or an inverter is the connection-target device.

The connector1includes a housing10and a first and a second electroconductive members20and30(FIG. 1toFIG. 6). In this connector1, the first and the second electroconductive members20and30are accommodated in the interior of the housing10, and respective terminals of a first and a second electric wires101A and101B are electrically connected to the first and the second electroconductive members20and30in positions deeper in the interior of the housing10.

The housing10is formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The housing10illustrated here includes an accommodation member11and a covering member12(FIG. 6).

The accommodation member11includes a first accommodation body11A having an angled cylindrical shape that holds the first and the second electroconductive members20and30, and a second accommodation body11B having an angled cylindrical shape that holds the first and the second electric wires101A and101B (FIG. 6).

One side of the first accommodation body11A is used as a fitting portion10a, the one side having an opening11A1(FIG. 1). The fitting portion10ais fit into a counterpart fitting portion201aof a casing201of the connection-target device (FIG. 3). Herein, the cylindrical axis of the fitting portion10acorresponds to directions in which the fitting portion10ais fit into and pulled out of the counterpart fitting portion201a. On the outer circumferential face of the fitting portion10a, an annular sealing member41and an annular retaining member42are provided (FIG. 1toFIG. 3). The sealing member41is provided so that the space between the fitting portion10aand the counterpart fitting portion201acan be kept proof against liquid. The retaining member42is used to retain the position of the sealing member41with respect to the fitting portion10a, and presses the sealing member41from the opening11A1side in a direction parallel to the cylindrical axis.

In the second accommodation body11B, the first and the second electric wires101A and101B are held with axis lines thereof oriented parallel to the cylindrical axis of the second accommodation body11B. In the interior of this second accommodation body11B, a first accommodation compartment11B1(FIG. 4) and a second accommodation compartment11B2(FIG. 5) are formed that accommodate the first electric wire101A and the second electric wire101B, respectively. The first accommodation compartment11B1and the second accommodation compartment11B2are each formed in a circular cylindrical shape, and are arranged next to each other in a direction perpendicular both to the cylindrical-axis direction of the second accommodation body11B and to the directions in which to fit and pull out the fitting portion10a. A third accommodation compartment11B3communicating with the first accommodation compartment11B1and the second accommodation compartment11B2is formed in the free-end side of this second accommodation body11B (FIG. 4andFIG. 5). The third accommodation compartment11B3accommodates a rear holder65described later. The first and the second electric wires101A and101B are led to the outside through the first and the second accommodation compartments11B1and11B2and through the third accommodation compartment11B3.

In this accommodation member11, the first accommodation body11A and the second accommodation body11B are arranged with the cylindrical axes thereof being perpendicular to each other. In this example, the second accommodation body11B is extended from one of the four circumferential walls of the first accommodation body11A. Through the one circumferential wall, the first and the second accommodation compartments11B1and11B2communicate with a space in the interior of the first accommodation body11A.

The covering member12is a member blocking an opening11A2(FIG. 6) in the other side of the first accommodation body11A and is formed in a rectangular plate-like shape. On the outer circumferential face of this covering member12, an annular sealing member45is provided. The sealing member45is provided so that the space between the covering member12and the inner circumferential face of the first accommodation body11A can be kept proof against liquid.

After the completion of fitting the fitting portion10ainto the counterpart fitting portion201a, this housing10is secured to the casing201of the connection-target device. This housing10is provided with fixture portions10bto be secured to fixture-portion receiving portions201bof the casing201(FIG. 1toFIG. 3). Here, the first accommodation body11A are provided with three fixture portions10b. Each of the fixture portions10band the corresponding fixture-portion receiving portion201bare brought into contact with each other and secured to each other with a screw during the progress of fitting the fitting portion10ainto the counterpart fitting portion201a. For example, the fixture portions10bis provided with a circular cylindrical collar member13having an axis line oriented along the direction in which to fit the fitting portion10a(FIG. 2). Each of the fixture-portion receiving portions201bis provided with a female screw member (not illustrated) such as a nut. The housing10is secured to the casing201of the connection-target device in a manner such that: the fixture portions10bare brought into contact with the corresponding fixture-portion receiving portions201bduring the progress of fitting the fitting portion10a; and male screw members (not illustrated) inserted through the interior of and coaxially with the corresponding collar members13are screwed into the female screw members of the corresponding fixture-portion receiving portions201b.

The first and the second electroconductive members20and30are each formed of an electroconductive material such as a metal. Herein, what is called a busbar, which is obtained by pressing a metal plate used as a base material therefor, is presented as each of the first and the second electroconductive members20and30.

The first electroconductive member20has a first electrical-connection portion21to be electrically connected to a first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A (FIG. 3), and a second electrical-connection portion22electrically connected to the terminal of the first electric wire101A (FIG. 6). The first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A is, for example, a part of a terminal included in the connection-target device. The first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A is provided to the counterpart fitting portion201a. The first electroconductive member20has the first electrical-connection portion21and the second electrical-connection portion22formed as fragment pieces and joined to each other by a joint portion23formed as a fragment piece.

This first electroconductive member20is disposed in the interior of the first accommodation body11A so that a direction perpendicular to a flat surface of the first electrical-connection portion21can be oriented along the direction in which to fit the fitting portion10a. This first electroconductive member20is disposed also so that a direction perpendicular to a flat surface of the second electrical-connection portion22can be oriented along the direction in which to fit the fitting portion10a. The first electroconductive member20in this example is obtained by folding an L-shaped piece over at 90 degrees in two locations, the L-shaped piece having been formed into an L shape through a punch-out process. One end portion of this L shape in the free-end side of one straight segment of the L shape is folded over, and the folded-over end portion is used as the first electrical-connection portion21. The other end portion of the L-shape and the rest of the other straight segment thereof are folded over together, and the other end portion is used as the second electrical-connection portion22. Herein, the first electrical-connection portion21and the second electrical-connection portion22are folded over in opposite directions. The first accommodation body11A has in the interior thereof: the first electrical-connection portion21disposed closer to the opening11A1than to the other opening; the joint portion23disposed extending from one edge of this first electrical-connection portion21in the directions in which the fitting portion10ais fit into and pulled out of the counterpart fitting portion201a; and the second electrical-connection portion22disposed extending from one edge of this joint portion23toward the second accommodation body11B. Extending in the direction along the axis line of the terminal of the first electric wire101A, the second electrical-connection portion22is joined to the first electric wire101A at an end portion thereof toward which the second electrical-connection portion22thus extends.

The first electrical-connection portion21is electrically connected to the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A by being brought into contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A during the progress of fitting the fitting portion10ainto the counterpart fitting portion201a. Herein, the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A is also formed as a fragment piece, and the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A are brought into contact with each other through respective flat surfaces thereof. The first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A are secured to each other by being screwed together, so as to be thereafter kept in contact with each other. The screwing uses a male screw member (not illustrated) and a female screw member (not illustrated) together having a screwing axis set parallel to the direction in which to fit the fitting portion10a. For this reason, the first electrical-connection portion21has a through-hole21aformed therein (FIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 6). For example, in the case of the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A provided with a male screw member such as a stud bolt, the male screw member is inserted through the through-hole21aduring the progress of fitting the fitting portion10a, and a female screw member is screwed on the male screw member after the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A are brought into contact with each other. Otherwise, in the case of the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A provided with a female screw member such as a weld nut, a male screw member is screwed into the female screw member after the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A are brought into contact with each other during the progress of fitting the fitting portion10a.

The second electrical-connection portion22has a through-hole22aformed therein in the above-described end portion thereof toward which it extends (FIG. 6). To this second electrical-connection portion22, an electrical-connection portion111of a terminal fitting110is connected via this through-hole22a, and the first electric wire101A is connected via this terminal fitting110. The terminal fitting110is an electroconductive member attached to the terminal of the first electric wire101A. This terminal fitting110is physically and electrically connected to the terminal of the first electric wire101A through a pressure bonding process such as swaging. The terminal fitting110in this example is what is called a round terminal, and the electrical-connection portion111has a through-hole111aformed therein. The second electrical-connection portion22and the electrical-connection portion111are secured to each other with screw members the screwing axis of which has been set parallel to the directions in which to fit and pull out the fitting portion10a. For this reason, this connector1includes a male screw member51and a female screw member52for fastening the second electrical-connection portion22and the electrical-connection portion111to each other (FIG. 4andFIG. 6). The second electrical-connection portion22and the electrical-connection portion111are physically and electrically connected to each other in a manner such that: respective flat surfaces thereof are brought into contact with each other so that the through-holes22aand111athereof can be concentrically disposed; and the female screw member52is screwed on the male screw member51inserted through both of the through-holes22aand111a.

The second electroconductive member30has a first electrical-connection portion31to be electrically connected to a second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B (FIG. 3), and a second electrical-connection portion32electrically connected to the terminal of the second electric wire101B (FIG. 6). The second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B is, for example, a part of a terminal included in the connection-target device. In the similar manner to the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A, this second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B is provided to the counterpart fitting portion201a. The second electroconductive member30has the first electrical-connection portion31and the second electrical-connection portion32formed as fragment pieces and joined to each other by a joint portion33formed as a fragment piece.

This second electroconductive member30is disposed in the interior of the first accommodation body11A so that a direction perpendicular to a flat surface of the first electrical-connection portion31can be oriented along the direction in which to fit the fitting portion10a. This second electroconductive member30is disposed also so that a direction perpendicular to a flat surface of the second electrical-connection portion32can be oriented along the direction in which to fit the fitting portion10a. The second electroconductive member30in this example is obtained by folding both end portions of a rectangular piece over at 90 degrees in two locations, the rectangular piece having been formed into a linear shape through a punch-out process. One end portion of this rectangular piece is used as the first electrical-connection portion31. The other end portion thereof is used as the second electrical-connection portion32. The first accommodation body11A has in the interior thereof: the first electrical-connection portion31disposed closer to the opening11A1than to the other opening; the joint portion33disposed extending from one edge of this first electrical-connection portion31in the directions in which to fit and pull out the fitting portion10a; and the second electrical-connection portion32disposed extending from one edge of this joint portion33toward the second accommodation body11B.

The first electrical-connection portion31is electrically connected to the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B by being brought into contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B along with the progress of fitting of the fitting portion10ainto the counterpart fitting portion201a. Herein, the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B is also formed as a fragment piece, and the first electrical-connection portion31and the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B are brought into contact with each other through respective flat surfaces thereof. As with the first electroconductive member20, the first electrical-connection portion31and the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B are secured to each other by being screwed, so as to be thereafter kept in contact with each other. For this reason, the first electrical-connection portion31has a through-hole31aformed therein (FIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 6).

The second electrical-connection portion32has a through-hole32aformed therein (FIG. 6). To this second electrical-connection portion32, an electrical-connection portion121of a terminal fitting120is connected via this through-hole32a, and the second electric wire101B is connected via this terminal fitting120. The terminal fitting120is an electroconductive member attached to the terminal of the second electric wire101B. This terminal fitting120is physically and electrically connected to the terminal of the second electric wire101B through a pressure bonding process such as swaging. The terminal fitting120in this example is what is called a round terminal, and the electrical-connection portion121has a through-hole121aformed therein. The second electrical-connection portion32and the electrical-connection portion121are secured to each other with screw members the screwing axis of which has been set parallel to the directions in which to fit and pull out the fitting portion10a. For this reason, this connector1includes a male screw member55and a female screw member56for fastening the second electrical-connection portion32and the electrical-connection portion121to each other (FIG. 5andFIG. 6). The second electrical-connection portion32and the electrical-connection portion121are physically and electrically connected to each other in a manner such that: respective flat surfaces thereof are brought into contact with each other so that the through-holes32aand121athereof can be concentrically disposed; and the female screw member56is screwed on the male screw member55inserted through both of the through-holes32aand121a.

In this connector1, the first electrical-connection portion21of the first electroconductive member20and the first electrical-connection portion31of the second electroconductive member30are disposed side by side with a space therebetween. Herein, the first electrical-connection portion21and the first electrical-connection portion31are arranged side by side in the direction along the axis lines of the first and the second electric wires101A and101B. In this connector1, the second electrical-connection portion22of the first electroconductive member20and the second electrical-connection portion32of the second electroconductive member30are also disposed side by side with a space therebetween. Herein, the second electrical-connection portion22and the second electrical-connection portion32are arranged next to each other in a direction in which the first accommodation compartment11B1and the second accommodation compartment11B2are arranged next to each other.

In this connector1, the housing10supports a connected body formed of the first electroconductive member20and the first electric wire101A and a connected body of the second electroconductive member30and the second electric wire101B in the following manner.

A circular cylindrical sealing member61concentric with the outer circumferential face of the first electric wire101A and the inner circumferential face of the first accommodation compartment11B1is provided therebetween (FIG. 4andFIG. 6). The sealing member61is provided with a plurality of lips on each of the inner and outer circumferential faces thereof. While the lips on the inner circumferential face thereof are attached firmly to the outer circumferential face of the first electric wire101A, the lips on the outer circumferential face thereof are attached firmly to the inner circumferential face of the first accommodation compartment11B1. Thus, the first electric wire101A is retained by the first accommodation compartment11B1with the sealing member61. Consequently, the connected body formed of the first electroconductive member20and the first electric wire101A are retained in the housing10with the sealing member61. Likewise, a circular cylindrical sealing member62concentric with the outer circumferential face of the second electric wire101B and the inner circumferential face of the second accommodation compartment11B2is provided therebetween (FIG. 5andFIG. 6). The sealing member62is provided with a plurality of lips on each of the inner and outer circumferential faces thereof. While the lips on the inner circumferential face thereof are attached firmly to the outer circumferential face of the second electric wire101B, the lips on the outer circumferential face thereof are attached firmly to the inner circumferential face of the second accommodation compartment11B2. Thus, the second electric wire101B is retained by the second accommodation compartment11B2with the sealing member62. Consequently, the connected body formed of the second electroconductive member30and the second electric wire101B are retained in the housing10with the sealing member62.

The rear holder65(FIG. 6) accommodated in the third accommodation compartment11B3regulates the positions of the respective sealing members61and62in directions along the axis lines thereof in the first accommodation compartment11B1and the second accommodation compartment11B2. The rear holder65in this example is composed of separated bodies65A and65B, that is, two parts into which the rear holder65is separated. The first electric wire101A and the second electric wire101B are sandwiched between the separate bodies65A and65B.

This connector1is covered with a shielding member70for preventing noise from intruding therein (FIG. 1toFIG. 6). The shielding member70is formed of an electroconductive material such as a metal. In this example, the shielding member70has a three-part divided structure composed of first to third shielding members71to73. The housing10is covered with the first to the third shielding members71to73from the outside with the fitting portion10aexposed. To this shielding member70(the first shielding member71), a braid (not illustrated) swaged with an electroconductive annular member75is electrically connected. The braid is an electroconductive member braided into a cylindrical shape, and covers externally drawn-out parts of the first electric wire101A and the second electric wire101B, the parts being drawn out externally.

In the connector1in this embodiment, the position of the first electric wire101A relative to the sealing member61can be adjusted both in the direction along the axis line of the first electric wire101A and in a direction about the axis of the first electric wire101A. Such adjustment of the position allows the through-hole21aof the first electrical-connection portion21to be positioned concentrically with the screwing axis of the aforementioned screw member. Likewise, in the connector1in this embodiment, the position of the second electric wire101B relative to the sealing member62can be adjusted both in the direction along the axis line of the second electric wire101B and in a direction about the axis of the second electric wire101B. Such adjustment of the position allows the through-hole31aof the first electrical-connection portion31to be positioned concentrically with the screwing axis of the aforementioned screw member.

One possible risk here is that, in the first electroconductive member20, if the first electrical-connection portion21makes contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A before the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, excess loads act on the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A during fixation by screwing between the fixture portion10band the fixture-portion receiving portion201b. Another possible risk is that, in the first electroconductive member20, if the first electrical-connection portion21is still out of contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A after the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, excess loads act on the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A during fixation by screwing between the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A. Also in the second electroconductive member30, such excess loads can act similarly on the first electrical-connection portion31and the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B. These excess loads can further act on the housing10and the casing201in the form of reaction force.

For this reason, the connector1in this embodiment not only has the through-hole21adisposed in the first electrical-connection portion21concentrically with the screwing axis of a screw member but also includes at least one position adjustment mechanism that enables adjustment of the position of the first electrical-connection portion21relative to the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A. The connector1in this embodiment not only has the through-hole31adisposed in the first electrical-connection portion31concentrically with the screwing axis of a screw member but also includes a position adjustment mechanism that enables adjustment of the position of the first electrical-connection portion31relative to the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B.

As the position adjustment mechanism for the first electroconductive member20, a first position adjustment mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “retraction mechanism”)81and a second position adjustment mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “movement-enabling mechanism”)82(FIG. 7) are included. The retraction mechanism81enables the first electroconductive member20and the terminal of the first electric wire101A to move relative to and retract from each other in the interior of the housing10while the fitting portion10ais being fit into the counterpart fitting portion201a. The movement-enabling mechanism82enables the first electroconductive member20and the terminal of the first electric wire101A to move relative to the housing10and be drawn nearer to the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A in the interior of the housing10after the fitting portion10ais fit into the counterpart fitting portion201a. As the position adjustment mechanism for the second electroconductive member30, a first position adjustment mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “retraction mechanism”)83and a second position adjustment mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “movement-enabling mechanism”)84(FIG. 8) are included. The retraction mechanism83enables the second electroconductive member30and the terminal of the second electric wire101B to move relative to and retract from each other in the interior of the housing10while the fitting portion10ais being fit into the counterpart fitting portion201a. The movement-enabling mechanism84enables the second electroconductive member30and the terminal of the second electric wire101B to move relative to the housing10and be drawn nearer to the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B in the interior of the housing10after the fitting portion10ais fit into the counterpart fitting portion201a.

The retraction mechanism81and the movement-enabling mechanism82in the first electroconductive member20are described first.

The retraction mechanism81is configured so that, when the first electrical-connection portion21makes contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A before the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the first electroconductive member20and the terminal of the first electric wire101A can be, until the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, retracted in a certain direction with the first electrical-connection portion21kept in contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A, the certain direction being opposite to the direction in which to fit the fitting portion10a. The retraction mechanism81in this example includes: a protrusion81athat is a part of one of the male screw member51and the female screw member52that have been screwed together, the part protruding from the second electrical-connection portion22and the electrical-connection portion111; and a guide portion (hereinafter referred to as “retraction guide portion”)81bprovided in the housing10and capable of guiding the protrusion81ain a direction parallel to the screwing axis of these screw members (FIG. 4andFIG. 7).

The movement-enabling mechanism82is configured so that, when the first electrical-connection portion21is still out of contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A after the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the first electroconductive member20and the terminal of the first electric wire101A can move relative to the housing10until the first electrical-connection portion21makes contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A. That is, this movement-enabling mechanism82moves the first electroconductive member20and the terminal of the first electric wire101A relative to the housing10in a direction opposite to the direction in which the retraction mechanism81does. The movement-enabling mechanism82in this example includes: a protrusion82athat is a part of the other of the male screw member51and the female screw member52that have been screwed together, the part protruding from the second electrical-connection portion22and the electrical-connection portion111; and a guide portion (hereinafter referred to as “movement-enabling guide portion”)82bprovided in the housing10and capable of guiding the protrusion82ain a direction parallel to the screwing axis of these screw members (FIG. 4andFIG. 7).

The male screw member51and the female screw member52that have been screwed together are used with a polygonal (hexagonal in this example) head51aof the male screw member51serving as the protrusion81aof the retraction mechanism81and with the polygonal (rectangular in this example) female screw member52as a whole used as the protrusion82aof the movement-enabling mechanism82(FIG. 4andFIG. 7).

The housing10is provided with: a first screw accommodating compartment10cto accommodate the head51aof the male screw member51; and a second screw accommodating compartment10dto accommodate the female screw member52(FIG. 4andFIG. 7). In this example, the first screw accommodating compartment10cis used as the retraction guide portion81b, and the second screw accommodating compartment10dis used as the movement-enabling guide portion82b. For this reason, in the housing10, the first screw accommodating compartment10cis formed so that the head51acan move relative to the housing10in a direction parallel to the screwing axis of the male screw member51, and the second screw accommodating compartment10dis formed so that the female screw member52can move relative to the housing10in a direction parallel to the screwing axis of its own. For example, a circular cylindrical portion12a, the cylindrical axis of which is concentric with the screwing axis of the male screw member51, is formed in the covering member12(FIG. 9), and a space in the interior of the circular cylindrical portion12ais used as the first screw accommodating compartment10c(the retraction guide portion81b). The circular cylindrical portion12ais formed into an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of a hypothetical circle passing through the corners of the head51a. Herein, the second screw accommodating compartment10dis formed as a groove having a square cylindrical shape in the accommodation member11(FIG. 10andFIG. 11). The second screw accommodating compartment10dis formed, for example, as a groove having a square cylindrical shape slightly larger than the female screw member52.

In the accommodation member11in this example, a third screw accommodating compartment10eto accommodate a tip51bof the male screw member51protruding through the female screw member52is provided, relative to which the tip51bis moved in the direction parallel to the screwing axis of the male screw member51when the movement-enabling mechanism82operates (FIG. 4andFIG. 7).

When the first electrical-connection portion21makes contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A before the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the retraction mechanism81enables the terminal fitting110of the first electroconductive member20and the terminal of the first electric wire101A to move in the interior of the housing10relative to the housing10with the first electrical-connection portion21kept in contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A and with the sealing member61used as the point of support, until the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b. That is, during fitting of the fitting portion10ainto the counterpart fitting portion201a, even when the first electrical-connection portion21makes contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A before the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the retraction mechanism81enables the terminal fitting110of the first electroconductive member20and the terminal of the first electric wire101A to retract in the interior of the housing10. Thus, until the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the connector1in this embodiment can prevent excess loads from acting on the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A. Consequently, the connector1in this embodiment keeps preventing excess loads from acting on the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A after the completion of connection thereof to the counterpart connector and can be thus improved in durability.

When the first electrical-connection portion21is still out of contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A after the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the movement-enabling mechanism82enables the terminal fitting110of the first electroconductive member20and the terminal of the first electric wire101A to move relative to the housing10in the interior of the housing10with the sealing member61used as the point of support. Thus, during fitting of the fitting portion10ainto the counterpart fitting portion201a, this movement-enabling mechanism82enables the first electrical-connection portion21to make contact with the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A even when the fixture portion10band the fixture-portion receiving portion201bmake contact with each other before the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A do. The connector1in this embodiment therefore can prevent excess loads from acting on the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A even with the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A secured by being screwed together. Consequently, the connector1in this embodiment can be improved in durability also in this aspect.

Furthermore, this connector1has the fixture portion10band the first electrical-connection portion21disposed offset from each other in the directions in which the fitting portion10ais fit into and pulled out of the counterpart fitting portion201a(FIG. 3). For this reason, a tolerance increases as an amount by which the fixture portion10band the first electrical-connection portion21are offset from each other (that is, the distance therebetween) increases. Such an increase results in a corresponding increase in relative positional shift of the first electrical-connection portion21from the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A along the screwing axis. However, the connector1in this embodiment can absorb a positional shift due to such a tolerance through the retraction mechanism81and the movement-enabling mechanism82and can be improved in durability by consequently preventing excess loads from acting on the first electrical-connection portion21and the first counterpart electrical-connection portion210A.

The retraction mechanism83and the movement-enabling mechanism84in the second electroconductive member30are described next.

The retraction mechanism83is configured so that, when the first electrical-connection portion31makes contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B before the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the second electroconductive member30and the terminal of the second electric wire101B can be, until the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, retracted in a certain direction with the first electrical-connection portion31kept in contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B, the certain direction being opposite to the direction in which to fit the fitting portion10a. The retraction mechanism83in this example includes: a protrusion83athat is a part of one of the male screw member55and the female screw member56that have been screwed together, the part protruding from the second electrical-connection portion32and the electrical-connection portion121; and a guide portion (hereinafter referred to as “retraction guide portion”)83bprovided in the housing10and capable of guiding the protrusion83ain a direction parallel to the screwing axis of these screw members (FIG. 5andFIG. 8).

The movement-enabling mechanism84is configured so that, when the first electrical-connection portion31is still out of contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B after the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the second electroconductive member30and the terminal of the second electric wire101B can be moved relative to the housing10until the first electrical-connection portion31makes contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B. That is, this movement-enabling mechanism84moves the second electroconductive member30and the terminal of the second electric wire101B relative to the housing10in a direction opposite to the direction in which the retraction mechanism83does. The movement-enabling mechanism84in this example includes: a protrusion84athat is a part of the other of the male screw member55and the female screw member56that have been screwed together, the part protruding from the second electrical-connection portion32and the electrical-connection portion121; and a guide portion (hereinafter referred to as “movement-enabling guide portion”)84bprovided in the housing10and capable of guiding the protrusion84ain a direction parallel to the screwing axis of these screw members (FIG. 5andFIG. 8).

The male screw member55and the female screw member56that have been screwed together are used with a polygonal (hexagonal in this example) head55aof the male screw member55serving as the protrusion83aof the retraction mechanism83and with the polygonal (rectangular in this example) female screw member56as a whole used as the protrusion84aof the movement-enabling mechanism84(FIG. 5andFIG. 8).

The housing10is provided with: a first screw accommodating compartment10fto accommodate the head55aof the male screw member55; and a second screw accommodating compartment10gto accommodate the female screw member56(FIG. 5andFIG. 8). In this example, the first screw accommodating compartment10fis used as the retraction guide portion83b, and the second screw accommodating compartment10gis used as the movement-enabling guide portion84b. As the first screw accommodating compartment10f, a compartment identical to the first screw accommodating compartment10cis provided in the covering member12(FIG. 9). As the second screw accommodating compartment10g, a compartment identical to the second screw accommodating compartment10dis provided in the accommodation member11(FIG. 10andFIG. 11). In the accommodation member11in this example, a third screw accommodating compartment10hto accommodate a tip55bof the male screw member55protruding through the female screw member56is provided, relative to which the tip55bis moved in the direction parallel to the screwing axis of the male screw member55when the movement-enabling mechanism84operates (FIG. 5andFIG. 8).

When the first electrical-connection portion31makes contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B before the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the retraction mechanism83enables the terminal fitting120of the second electroconductive member30and the terminal of the second electric wire101B to move in the interior of the housing10relative to the housing10with the first electrical-connection portion31kept in contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B and with the sealing member62used as the point of support, until the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b. That is, during fitting of the fitting portion10ainto the counterpart fitting portion201a, even when the first electrical-connection portion31makes contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B before the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the retraction mechanism83enables the terminal fitting120of the second electroconductive member30and the terminal of the second electric wire101B to retract in the interior of the housing10. Thus, until the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the connector1in this embodiment can prevent excess loads from acting on the first electrical-connection portion31and the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B. Consequently, the connector1in this embodiment keeps preventing excess loads from acting on the first electrical-connection portion31and the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B after the completion of connection thereof to the counterpart connector and can be thus improved in durability.

When the first electrical-connection portion31is still out of contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B after the fixture portion10bmakes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion201b, the movement-enabling mechanism84enables the terminal fitting120of the second electroconductive member30and the terminal of the second electric wire101B to move relative to the housing10in the interior of the housing10with the sealing member62used as the point of support. Thus, during fitting of the fitting portion10ainto the counterpart fitting portion201a, this movement-enabling mechanism84enables the first electrical-connection portion31to make contact with the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B even when the fixture portion10band the fixture-portion receiving portion201bmake contact with each other before the first electrical-connection portion31and the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B do. The connector1in this embodiment therefore can prevent excess loads from acting on the first electrical-connection portion31and the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B even with the first electrical-connection portion31and the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B secured by being screwed together. Consequently, the connector1in this embodiment can be improved in durability also in this aspect.

Furthermore, this connector1has the fixture portion10band the first electrical-connection portion31disposed offset from each other in the directions in which the fitting portion10ais fit into and pulled out of the counterpart fitting portion201a(FIG. 3). For this reason, a tolerance increases as an amount by which the fixture portion10band the first electrical-connection portion31are offset from each other (that is, the distance therebetween) increases. Such an increase results in a corresponding increase in relative positional shift of the first electrical-connection portion31from the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B along the screwing axis. However, the connector1in this embodiment can absorb a positional shift due to such a tolerance through the retraction mechanism83and the movement-enabling mechanism84and can be improved in durability by consequently preventing excess loads from acting on the first electrical-connection portion31and the second counterpart electrical-connection portion210B.

In the connector1in this embodiment, the respective female screw members52and56are accommodated in the second screw accommodating compartments10dand10g, the respective second electrical-connection portions22and32are then placed on the electrical-connection portions111and121, and the respective male screw members51and55are then inserted through the through-holes22aand32aof the second electrical-connection portions22and32and the through-holes111aand121aof the electrical-connection portions111and121to be screwed into the female screw members52and56. For this reason, during this screwing, the rotation torque of the male screw members51and55acts on the female screw members52and56, and the second screw accommodating compartments10dand10geach receive input corresponding to the rotation torque of the female screw members52and56. The respective second screw accommodating compartments10dand10gmay receive the input from a corner52bformed between adjacent outer circumferential faces52aof the female screw member52and a corner56bformed between adjacent outer circumferential faces56aof the female screw member56. In that case, those corners52band56bare forced against the respective second screw accommodating compartments10dand10g, thereby likely resulting in inconveniences such as impeding the operation of the retraction mechanisms81and83and the movement-enabling mechanisms82and84and deteriorating the durability thereof. For this reason, the second screw accommodating compartments10dand10gare preferably formed in the following shapes (FIG. 11).

The second screw accommodating compartment10dhas inner circumferential faces10d1corresponding to the respective outer circumferential faces52aof the female screw member52and facing and lying next to the corresponding outer circumferential faces52a, and the second screw accommodating compartment10ghas inner circumferential faces10g1corresponding to the outer circumferential faces56aof the female screw member56and facing and lying next to the corresponding outer circumferential faces56a(FIG. 11). In this example, there are four such inner circumferential faces10d1corresponding to the four outer circumferential faces52aand four such inner circumferential faces10g1corresponding to the four outer circumferential faces56a. The four inner circumferential faces10d1and the four inner circumferential faces10g1form the main portions of the respective shapes of the second screw accommodating compartments10dand10g.

These second screw accommodating compartments10dand10gare further provided with cutouts10d3to accommodate the respective corners52bof the female screw member52and cutouts10g3to accommodate the respective corners56bof the female screw member56, the cutouts10d3being formed at respective corners10d2formed between adjacent ones of the inner circumferential faces10d1, the cutouts10g3being formed at respective corners10g2formed between adjacent ones of the inner circumferential faces10g1(FIG. 11). Each of the cutouts10d3has an arc-shaped face10d31that connects the corresponding adjacent two inner circumferential faces10d1; and each of the cutouts10g3has an arc-shaped face10g31that connects the corresponding adjacent two inner circumferential faces10g1. These cutouts10d3and10g3are formed to have the arc-shaped faces10d31and10g31so that the corners52band56bof the female screw members52and56can be prevented from being forced against the second screw accommodating compartments10dand10gnot only when rotation torque for screwing the male screw members51and55into the female screw members52and56acts but also when rotation torque for unscrewing the male screw members51and55from the female screw members52and56acts. For example, the arc-shaped faces10d31(10g31) are formed so as to have, at the corners10d2(10g2) connected by each of the diagonal lines, arc-shaped wall faces symmetric about that diagonal line and located on opposite sides of that diagonal line. Thus, this connector1enables the retraction mechanisms81and83and the movement-enabling mechanisms82and84to smoothly operate and can prevent deterioration of its durability.

Here, as described above, the retraction mechanisms81and83and the movement-enabling mechanisms82and84are configured to operate when the fitting portion10ais fit into the counterpart fitting portion201a. Thus, the cutouts10d3and10g3consideration does not necessarily need to be formed with consideration given to rotation torque that acts in unscrewing the male screw members51and55from the female screw members52and56. For this reason, the cutouts10d3and10g3may be formed with arc-shaped faces10d32and10g32as described below (FIG. 12). The arc-shaped faces10d32(10g32) are formed so that an arc-shaped wall face of each of the corners10d2(10g2) symmetric about and located on two opposite sides of each of the diagonal lines that connect the opposite corners10d2(10g2) can be located on one of these sides that receives rotation torque during the screwing. In such a case also, this connector1enables the retraction mechanisms81and83and the movement-enabling mechanisms82and84to smoothly operate and can prevent deterioration of its durability.

Furthermore, the covering member12may be provided with the circular cylindrical portions12aat the four respective corners thereof (FIG. 9) and be formed so that either of the spaces on the interiors of the two circular cylindrical portions12aon one of the two diagonal lines of the covering member12can be used as the first screw accommodating compartment10c(retraction guide portion81b) and so that either of the spaces on the interiors of the two circular cylindrical portions12aon the other diagonal line can be used as the first screw accommodating compartment10f(retraction guide portion83b). This enables the connector1to be more flexible about the orientation of the covering member12in attachment thereof.

A connector according to the present embodiments includes a retraction mechanism. Therefore, during fitting of a fitting portion into a counterpart fitting portion, the connector enables an electroconductive member and a terminal of an electric wire to retract in the interior of a housing even when an electrical-connection portion makes contact with a counterpart electrical-connection portion before a fixture portion makes contact with a fixture-portion receiving portion. Thus, until the fixture portion makes contact with the fixture-portion receiving portion, this connector can prevent excess loads from acting on the electrical-connection portion and the counterpart electrical-connection portion. Consequently, this connector keeps preventing excess loads from acting on the electrical-connection portion and the counterpart electrical-connection portion after the completion of connection thereof to a counterpart connector and can be thus improved in durability.