Abstract:
A connector engaging structure includes an electrical connection box including a first connector provided with a connecting terminal, a second connector to be engaged with the first connecter, and provided with a mating terminal to be connected to the connecting terminal, an outer housing which houses a whole of the second connector, and is secured to the electrical connection box, and a rotatable lever which couples the second connector with the outer housing, and relatively moves the second connector to/from the first connector to connect/disconnect the connecting terminal to/from the mating terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a connector engaging structure, and more particularly, to the connector engaging structure which is favorably used for temporarily breaking a circuit current, on occasion of conducting inspection and maintenance of an electric car or a hybrid car which has a high voltage circuit for driving a motor. 
         [0002]    A device for breaking a power supply by means of a plug which is mounted on a terminal part connected to an electric circuit has been heretofore known (See Patent Document 1, for example). 
         [0003]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views showing a power supply breaking device  110  which is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This device includes a plug box  120  having circuit terminals  121  which are connected to an open end of an electric circuit, and a plug body  130  which is provided on this plug box  120  so as to be displaced by a determined amount. The plug body  130  closes the electric circuit by engaging short circuit terminals  131  with the circuit terminals  121  to make a short circuit, and opens the electric circuit by detaching the short circuit terminals  131  from the circuit terminals  121  thereby to break the circuit current. The plug body  130  can be displaced with respect to the plug box  120  between a normal locking position in which the short circuit terminals  131  are engaged with the circuit terminals  121  and a temporary locking position in which the short circuit terminals  131  are detached from the circuit terminals  121 . 
         [0004]    As another conventional art, a device for connecting terminals which are connected by linkage to an operating lever, to mating terminals, by pressing them toward the mating terminals has been known (See Patent Document 2, for example). 
         [0005]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are perspective views showing a power supply breaking device which is disclosed in Patent Document 2. This device includes a case body  201 , a handle  202  having a body  210 , a grip  211 , and a locking part  212  provided on the body  210 , an opening/closing and tripping mechanism  203 , a handle locking member  215  which is arranged in the case body  201  and urged toward the body  210  in a state opposed to the body  210  to be locked to the locking part  212  thereby to prevent the handle  202  from rotating in OFF position from an ON position, and a releasing member  216  which is arranged on the case body so as to be operable from the exterior of the case body thereby to separate the handle locking member  215  from the locking part  212  of the body  210  against the urging force. When the handle  202  is rotated from the OFF position to the ON position, the locking part  212  pushes the handle locking member  215  to override it. 
         [0006]    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-82548 
         [0007]    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-209511 
         [0008]    However, the circuit breaking device  110  disclosed in Patent Document 1 is so constructed that the circuit is broken by detaching the plug body  130  which has been engaged with the device  110 . Because the plug body  130  is completely detached from the device  110 , there is such anxiety that surrounding components may be damaged with drop of the plug body  130  or the plug body  130  may be lost. Moreover, because the terminal part is not completely covered, there is such anxiety that dust or extraneous materials may enter in a plug engaging part in the device, whereby the plug body  130  is unable to be engaged although tried to be engaged, or conduction error occurs even though the plug body  130  is engaged. 
         [0009]    On the other hand, in the circuit braking device  201  disclosed in Patent Document 2, electrical connection is realized by operating the handle  215  to press a movable contact  207  against a fixed contact  206 . Therefore, there is such anxiety that the contacts may be easily moved with vibration or a shock, causing conduction error or chattering. Moreover, when the device is mounted on an apparatus such as a junction board, it is necessary to fasten, with a bolt, circuit connection between the circuit breaking device and the junction board, and it is also necessary to secure the circuit breaking device by fastening it with a bolt. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An object of the invention is to provide a connector engaging structure which can assure reliable electrical connection without damaging surrounding components, and at the same time, can secure connectors without employing a bolt or the like. 
         [0011]    The above described object of the invention can be achieved by the following structure. 
         [0012]    A connector engaging structure, comprising: 
         [0013]    an electrical connection box including a first connector provided with a connecting terminal; 
         [0014]    a second connector to be engaged with the first connecter, and provided with a mating terminal to be connected to the connecting terminal; 
         [0015]    an outer housing which houses a whole of the second connector, and is secured to the electrical connection box; and 
         [0016]    a rotatable lever which couples the second connector with the outer housing, and relatively moves the second connector to/from the first connector to connect/disconnect the connecting terminal to/from the mating terminal. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the outer housing is secured to the first connector. 
         [0018]    Preferably, when the second connector is relatively moved toward the first connector, the connecting terminal is connected to the mating terminal, and when the second connector is relatively moved away from the first connector, the connecting terminal is disconnected from the mating terminal. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the outer housing includes a locked part, and the electrical connection box includes a lock part locked with the locked part. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the second connector includes an elastically deformable arm portion having a projection, 
         [0021]    when the second connector is disengaged from the first connector, the projection is located at a first position of a side wall of the outer housing, 
         [0022]    when the second connector is engaged with the first connector, the projection is located at a second position of the side wall, 
         [0023]    the outer housing includes a locking projection located between the first position and the second position, and 
         [0024]    the locking projection projects from the side wall of the outer housing in a direction perpendicular to an engaging direction in which the second connector is to be engaged with the first connector. 
         [0025]    Here, it is preferable that the locking projection includes a first taper face extending from the first position to an apex of the locking projection to slide the projection on the first taper face. 
         [0026]    Here, it is preferable that the locking projection includes a second taper face extending from the second position to an apex of the locking projection to slide the projection on the second taper face. 
         [0027]    According to the above structure, by operating the lever in a state where the outer housing which houses a whole of the second connector is secured to the electrical connection box or the first connector, the second connector can be engaged with and disengaged from the first connector. Therefore, the components will not be separated outside, when the connector is disengaged. Moreover, dust or extraneous materials will not enter into the connector engaging part, and reliable electrical connection can be assured. Further, the second connector which is the connecting plug will not be lost or need not be kept separately, and therefore, maintenance can be easily performed. 
         [0028]    According to the above structure, the outer housing can be easily coupled to the electrical connection box or the first connector. 
         [0029]    According to the above structure, in case where the first connector and the second connector are on halfway of the engagement, the arm part is pushed back, and so, it can be reliably recognized by a touch or by visual check that the connectors are on halfway of the engagement. 
         [0030]    According to the above structure, when the first connector is engaged with the second connector by a determined amount, the arm part is guided along the taper face in a direction toward the position where the engagement is completed. As the results, engaging motion is accelerated thereby to facilitate the engaging operation. 
         [0031]    According to the connector engaging structure in this invention, because the outer housing which houses a whole of the second connector is secured to the electrical connection box or the first connector, the components will not be separated from the connectors, and will not damage the surrounding components. Moreover, faulty engagement due to dust or extraneous materials is prevented beforehand, and reliable electrical connection can be assured. Further, because the connectors can be engaged with each other by operating the lever which is provided on the outer housing, it is possible to fix the connectors to each other without employing a bolt or the like. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a connector engaging structure in an embodiment according to the invention; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are sectional views of the connector engaging structure in  FIG. 1 , in an engaged state; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are sectional views of the connector engaging structure in  FIG. 1 , in a detached state; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a conventional connector engaging structure in an engaged state; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the connector engaging structure in  FIG. 4  in a detached state; 
           [0038]      FIG. 6A  is a partial sectional side view of a conventional breaker when a power supply is broken; 
           [0039]      FIG. 6B  is a plan view of a conventional breaker when a power supply is broken; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7A  is a partial sectional side view of the breaker in  FIG. 6A  when the power supply is connected; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 7B  is a plan view of the breaker in  FIG. 6B  when the power supply is connected. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0042]    Now, an embodiment of the invention will be described referring to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0043]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a connector engaging structure in the embodiment according to the invention,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are sectional views of connectors in  FIG. 1  when they are engaged, and  FIGS. 3A and 3B  are sectional views of the connectors in  FIG. 1  when they are detached from each other. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a connector engaging structure  2  includes an electrical connection box  8  provided with a first connector  6  to which a pair of male terminals  4  are fitted, a second connector  12  to which a pair of female terminals  10  to be mated with the male terminals  4  are fitted, an operating lever  14  which is coupled to the second connector  12 , and an outer housing  16  in which an entirety of the second connector  12  is housed and the operating lever  14  is pivotally held. It is to be noted that an entire body of the electrical connection box  8  is not shown in  FIG. 1 , but only a part thereof is shown. 
         [0045]    The operating lever  14  includes an operating part  20  which is formed by coupling one ends of a pair of L-shaped side walls  18 , and projections  22  which are provided on inner faces of the side walls  18  at the other ends. One of the projections  22  is adapted to be engaged with a cam groove  24  which is formed on a side face of the second connector  12 . The similar cam groove  24  is formed on a side face of the second connector  12  at the opposite side which is not shown. The projections  22  of the operating lever  14  serve as working points with respect to the second connector  12 , when the operating lever  14  is operated. Moreover, pivotally holding holes  26  are formed on respective outer faces of the side walls  18  at a joint part between a longer piece and a shorter piece. The outer housing  16  is provided with bosses  28  to be engaged with the pivotally holding holes  26  formed in the side walls  18  of the operating lever  14 , on inner faces thereof. When the bosses  28  of the outer housing  16  are engaged with the pivotally holding holes  26  in the operating lever  14 , the operating lever  14  is pivotally held by the outer housing  16  so as to rotate. 
         [0046]    The outer housing  16  is provided with a pair of grooves  30  which serve as passages for the side walls  18  of the operating lever  14 . In addition, a side wall  32  between a pair of the grooves  30  is formed with two holes  34 ,  36  at upper and lower positions which serve as locking positions of the second connector  12 . Similar holes are also formed in the side wall  32  at the opposite side which is not shown (See  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0047]    The female terminals  10  which are fitted to the second connector  12  are integrally formed by way of a connecting plate  38 , and have short-circuiting function. When the second connector  12  is engaged with the first connector  6 , the female connectors  10  are connected to the male terminals  4  thereby to form a short-circuit. 
         [0048]    Moreover, a lock arm  42  in a cantilever shape which is flexible and deformable, and adapted to be engaged with a locking projection  40  (See  FIG. 2 ) provided on an inner face of the outer housing  16  is provided on the other side face of the second connector  12 . The lock arm  42  is provided with a projection  44  in a semicircular shape as a sliding element to come into slidable contact with the locking projection  40 , at a tip end of the lock arm  42 . 
         [0049]    A pair of C-shaped lock parts  46  extending toward the outer housing  16  are provided in a cantilever manner on the electrical connection box  8 , while a pair of locked parts  48  to be locked to the lock parts  46  of the electrical connection box  8  to secure the outer housing  16  are provided in corresponding regions of the outer housing  16 . The locked parts  48  of the outer housing  16  are locked to the lock parts  46  of the electrical connection box  8  in a state where the second connector  12  and the operating lever  14  are housed in the outer housing  16 , whereby the outer housing  16  is secured to the electrical connection box  8 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show the connector engaging structure  2  in a state where the connectors are engaged, in which  FIG. 2A  is a partial cross sectional view of the connector engaging structure  2 , and  FIG. 2B  is a partial cross sectional view as seen in a direction displaced by  90  degree from a direction of  FIG. 2A .  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the connector engaging structure  2  in a state where the connectors are detached from each other, in which  FIG. 3A  is a partial cross sectional view of the connector engaging structure  2 , and  FIG. 3B  is a partial cross sectional view as seen in a direction displaced by 90 degree from a direction of  FIG. 3A . 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the locked parts  48  of the outer housing  16  are locked to the lock parts  46  of the electrical connection box  8 , whereby the outer housing  16  which houses the second connector  12  is secured to the electrical connection box  8 . While the first connector  6  and the second connector  12  are properly engaged with each other, the male terminals  4  are electrically connected to the female terminals  10 , and an electric circuit inside the electrical connection box  8  is short-circuited by means of the female terminals  10  which have the short-circuiting function. The projections  44  of the lock arms  42  of the second connector  12  are respectively engaged with the holes  36  at the lower position on the side faces  32  of the outer housing  16  thereby to secure the first connector  6  at the engaged position. 
         [0052]    The operating lever  14  is positioned at a fixed position as shown in  FIG. 2A . When the operating lever  14  is rotated in a direction of an arrow mark B from the fixed position, a force which presses the operating lever  14  acts from the projections  22  provided on the side walls  18  of the operating lever  14  to the cam grooves  24  of the second connector  12 , in a state where the projections  22  are engaged with the cam grooves  24 . Then, the force is applied to the second connector  12  in a direction of detaching, and the projections  44  of the lock arms  42  of the second connector  12  are removed from the holes  36  at the lower position. 
         [0053]    Then, the second connector  12  is displaced so as to be detached, following the rotation of the operating lever  14 . On this occasion, each of the lock arms  42  is flexed toward a side face of the connector, and the projection  44  arrives at an apex of the locking projection  40  of the outer housing  16 , while the projection  44  is guided along a lower taper face  50  of the locking projection  40 . When the projection  44  has overridden the apex of the locking projection  40 , the projection  44  is guided along an upper taper face  52  by action of a restoring force of the lock arm  42 , whereby detaching motion is accelerated, and the second connector  12  is detached from the first connector  6 . 
         [0054]    When the projection  44  of the lock arm  42  is engaged with the hole  34  at the upper position, detachment of the second connector  12  is completed, and the electric circuit inside the electrical connection box  8  is opened. The second connector  12  can be easily detached from the first connector  6 , by synergic action of the rotation of the operating lever  14  and the restoring force of the lock arms  42 . 
         [0055]    In  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the connectors  6  and  12  are completely detached from each other. At a time when the connectors are detached, the operating lever  14  is in a released position as shown in  FIG. 3A , in which the second connector  12  is detached from the first connector  6 , and connection between the female terminals  10  and the male terminals  4  is released. In this state, detachment securing pieces  54  extending upward from the second connector  12  are locked to stepped parts  56  provided on the outer housing  16 , whereby the second connector  12  is secured in the state where it is completely detached. The detachment securing pieces  54  are respectively provided with lock portions  60  having taper faces  58 , at their distal ends. The detachment securing pieces  54  are flexed and deformed, while the taper faces  58  are guided along the stepped parts  56  with upward movement of the second connector  12 , whereby the lock portions  60  are engaged with the stepped parts  56 . 
         [0056]    In order to release the lock between the lock portions  60  and the stepped parts  56 , fingers are inserted into upper openings  62  formed in the outer housing  16 , and the detachment securing pieces  54  are flexed so as to approach each other. It is possible to release the lock by employing a jig instead of the fingers. In a state where the lock between the lock portions  60  and the stepped parts  56  is released, the operating lever  14  is rotated in a direction of an arrow mark A, whereby the second connector  12  moves in a direction of approaching the first connector  6  following the rotation of the operating lever  14 , in a reverse motion to the releasing motion. 
         [0057]    On this occasion, the lock arms  42  are flexed and deformed toward the connector, and the projections  44  are detached from the holes  34  at the upper position to be guided along the upper taper faces  52  of the locking projections  40 . When the projections  44  of the lock arms  42  arrives at the lower taper faces  50  of the locking projections  40 , the projections  44  are unlikely to be released due to the restoring forces of the lock arms  42 , but to the contrary, engaging motion is accelerated. Then, the operating lever  14  is rotated to the position as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  in a state where the restoring forces of the lock arms  42  are added, whereby downward movement of the second connector  12  is completed, and its engagement with the first connector  6  is completed. 
         [0058]    In case where the engaging motion by the operating lever  14  is interrupted while the projections  44  of the lock arms  42  are in contact with the upper taper faces  52  of the locking projections  40 , the second connector  12  is returned in a direction of detaching by the restoring forces of the lock arms  42 . Therefore, it can be easily recognized by a touch or by visual check that the connectors are on halfway of the engagement. 
         [0059]    The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, but all modifications can be made within a concept of the invention. For example, although the outer housing  16  is secured to the electrical connection box  8  in the above described embodiment, the outer housing  16  may be secured to the first connector  6 .