Patent Publication Number: US-7591682-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector which is suitably used under vacuum environment. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there has been proposed a connector that is comprised of an insulating material (housing), holding clips, and socket contacts (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. S62-131485 (page 3, lower left column, line 6 to upper right column, line 1; FIG. 1). 
     The insulating material is formed with a plurality of cavities. The cavities are spaces having a generally cylindrical shape, and each have a small-diameter portion, a large-diameter portion, and a medium-diameter portion. The small-diameter portion is located at an end of the housing toward a mating connector. The medium-diameter portion is located at an end of the housing opposite from the end toward the mating connector. The large-diameter portion is located between the small-diameter portion and the medium-diameter portion. 
     Each holding clip has a generally hollow cylindrical shape, and is made of an elastic material. The holding clip has an outer peripheral surface formed with a pair of spring pieces opposed to each other. The pair of spring pieces are cantilevered, and the distance therebetween becomes shorter toward foremost ends (free ends) thereof. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the holding clip is formed with a slit parallel to the central axis of the holding clip. When the holding clip is radially urged, the width of the slit is reduced to reduce the outer diameter of the holding clip. 
     Each socket contact has a shape in which three cylinders having different outer diameters are continuous in a line. 
     This connector is assembled as follows: 
     First, the outer diameter of the holding clip is reduced, and in this state, the holding clip is inserted into the large-diameter portion of one of the cavities of the housing via the medium-diameter portion thereof. The outer diameter of the holding clip inserted into the large-diameter portion returns to its original state to bring the holding clip into intimate contact with the inner surface of the large-diameter portion. 
     Then, the socket contact is inserted into the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion via the medium-diameter portion. The socket contact inserted into the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion is engaged with the spring pieces of the holding clip, which inhibits the socket contact from being drawn out from the cavity. 
     On the other hand, when it is necessary to disassemble the connector e.g. for repair, a hollow cylindrical jig is inserted between the spring pieces of the holding clip and the socket contact to disengage the spring pieces and the socket contact from each other. This makes it possible to draw out the contact from the housing. 
     In the above-described connector, when the connector is disassembled e.g. for repair, it is possible to draw out the socket contact from the housing, but it is impossible to draw out the holding clips therefrom. Therefore, when one of the holding clips and the housing is damaged or broken, which requires replacement thereof, it becomes necessary to replace both the holding clip and the housing. 
     If the holding clip has to be drawn out from the housing, it is necessary to break a portion of the housing defining a third hole therein. 
     In a connector used in the atmosphere, an inexpensive resin can be used as a material of the housing, and the holding clips are manufactured at low costs. Therefore, even if both the holding clip and the housing are replaced, it cannot cause a serious problem. 
     Recently, the use of connectors has been widened, and there exists a connector that is used in a vacuum. Although the connector used in a vacuum has the same construction as that of the above-described connector, ceramic is used as a material of a housing thereof so as to prevent occurrence of out-gassing from the housing. 
     Also in the connector used in a vacuum, when it becomes necessary to replace damaged holding clips, the holding clips are replaced together with the housing of the connector. 
     However, since the ceramic housing of the connector used in a vacuum is very expensive, it is uneconomical to replace the damaged holding clips together with the housing that is not damaged. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector which makes it possible to take out a holding member for a contact without breaking a housing. 
     To attain the above object, the present invention provides a connector comprising a contact, a housing that has a insertion hole for inserting the contact, the housing including a first housing component part, and a second housing component part connected to the first housing component part, the insertion hole having a first hole formed in the first housing component part, and a second hole formed in the second housing component part such that the second hole is opposed to the first hole in directions of insertion and removal of the contact, and a holding member that has a generally hollow cylindrical shape, and holds the contact inserted into the insertion hole, the holding member being accommodated in the first hole or the second hole such that the holding member is restricted in motion in the directions of insertion and removal of the contact when the first housing component part and the second housing component part are connected to each other. 
     With the arrangement of this connector, when the first housing component part and the second housing component parts are disconnected from each other, the restriction on the motion of the holding member in the directions of insertion and removal of the contacts is released. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to take out the holding member for the contact from the housing without breaking the housing. 
     Preferably, the connector further comprises a shell mounted on the housing in a manner covering the housing, the shell comprising a first shell component part and a second shell component part which can be separated in the directions of insertion and removal of the contacts. 
     Preferably, the first shell component part and the second component part are connected by threads. 
     Preferably, the first hole has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the second hole, and the diameter of the first hole is smaller than an outer diameter of the holding member. 
     Preferably, the first hole has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the second hole, and the diameter of the second hole is smaller than an outer diameter of the holding member. 
     Preferably, the the holding member includes an engagement spring that protrudes radially inward of the holding member, for engagement with an engagement portion of the contact. 
     Preferably, the housing is made of a ceramic material. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a front view of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
         FIG. 2B  is a top view of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
         FIG. 2C  is a bottom view of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
         FIG. 2D  is a side view of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a main housing and a sub housing of the  FIG. 1  connector in a state in which the sub housing has not been fitted in the main housing yet; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing the sub housing and a clip of the  FIG. 1  connector in a state in which the clip has not been fitted in the sub housing yet; 
         FIG. 5A  is a front view of the clip of the  FIG. 1  connector 
         FIG. 5B  is a plan view of the clip of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the clip appearing in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ; 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the clip, as viewed from a direction opposite to the direction of viewing the clip in  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the housing of the  FIG. 1  connector and a contact showing a state in which the contact is inserted into and removed from the housing; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the housing of the  FIG. 1  connector and a shell in a state before the housing is covered by the shell; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10A  is a front view of the  FIG. 9  connector; 
         FIG. 10B  is a plan view of the  FIG. 9  connector; 
         FIG. 10C  is a bottom view of the  FIG. 9  connector; and 
         FIG. 10D  is a side view of the  FIG. 9  connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof. 
       FIGS. 1 to 2D  show a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 2A to 2D , the connector is comprised of socket contacts (contacts)  3 , a housing  5 , clips (holding members)  8 , and a shell  10 . 
     Each socket contact  3  includes a connection portion  31 , a flange portion  32 , a sleeve-mounting portion  33  (see  FIG. 7 ), and a contact portion  34  (see  FIG. 9 , since the construction of the contact portion  34  and its associated portions is the same as that of the corresponding portions of a second embodiment described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 10D ). The connection portion  31  has a generally hollow cylindrical shape. To the connection portion  31  is connected a core  151  of a cable  15 . The flange portion  32  has an outer diameter larger than that of the connection portion  31 . The sleeve-mounting portion  33  is continuous with the flange portion  32 . The sleeve-mounting portion  33  has an outer diameter smaller than that of the flange portion  32 . A sleeve  4  is mounted on the sleeve-mounting portion  33 . The sleeve  4  protects the contact portion  34 . The contact portion  34  is connected to the sleeve-mounting portion  33 . The contact portion  34  and a mating connector, not shown, are brought into contact with each other with a pin contact of the mating connector sandwiched therebetween. 
     Next, a description will be given of a main housing and a sub housing of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 , with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . It should be noted that  FIGS. 1 and 3  are cross-sectional views taken on different lines, and hence the connectors in  FIGS. 1 and 3  have different shapes in cross-section ( FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the connector stepwise cut such that there appear two insertion holes  5   a ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing  5  is comprised of the main housing  6  (first component part of the housing) and the sub housing  7  (second component part of the housing). 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the main housing  6  includes a fitting portion  61  and a gripper portion  62 . The main housing  6  is made of a ceramic material. The fitting portion  61  is fitted to the mating connector. The gripper portion  62  is connected to the fitting portion  61 . The main housing  6  is formed with a plurality of holes (first holes)  63 . The holes  63  each have a guide  64 , a contact portion-accommodating portion  65 , and a contact-inserting portion  66 . 
     The guide  64  and the contact portion-accommodating portion  65  are formed in the fitting portion  61 . The guide  64  has a tapered surface  64   a  for guiding the pin contact of the mating connector into the contact portion-accommodating portion  65 . An end of the guide  64  toward the contact portion-accommodating portion  65  has an inner diameter smaller in size than the inner diameter of the contact portion-accommodating portion  65 . The contact portion-accommodating portion  65  communicates with the guide  64 . The contact portion-accommodating portion  65  accommodates the contact portion  34  of the socket contact  3 , the sleeve  4 , and the contact portion of the pin contact of the mating connector. 
     The contact-inserting portion  66  is formed in the gripper portion  62 , and has an inner diameter equal in size to the inner diameter of the contact portion-accommodating portion  65 . The contact-inserting portion  66  is provided for inserting and removing the socket contact  3  into and from the housing  5 . The guide  64 , the contact portion-accommodating portion  65 , and the contact-inserting portion  66  are arranged on the same straight line. 
     The gripper portion  62  is formed with a sub housing-accommodating portion  67 . The sub housing-accommodating portion  67  removably accommodates the sub housing  7 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the sub housing  7  has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The sub housing  7  is made of a ceramic material, and is formed with clip-accommodating holes  71 . Each clip-accommodating hole  71  has an inner diameter slightly smaller in size than the outer diameter of the clip  8 . The clip  8  is elastically deformed in a direction in which the outer diameter thereof is reduced in size, so that when the clip  8  is accommodated in the clip-accommodating hole  71 , the clip  8  is held in the sub housing  7  by a resilient force thereof. When the sub housing  7  is accommodated in the sub housing-accommodating portion  67  of the main housing  6 , the clip-accommodating hole  71  is continuous with the contact portion-accommodating portion  65  and the contact-inserting portion  66  such that they are arranged on the same straight line. The clip-accommodating hole  71  has an inner diameter larger in size than those of the contact portion-accommodating portion  65  and the contact-inserting portion  66 . This difference between the inner diameters forms first and second stopper surfaces  68  and  69  between the clip-accommodating hole  71  and the contact portion-accommodating portion  65  and between the clip-accommodating hole  71  and the contact-inserting portion  66 , respectively (see  FIGS. 1 and 7 ). When the sub housing  7  is accommodated in the sub housing-accommodating portion  67  of the main housing  6 , the first and second stopper surfaces  68  and  69  are engaged with the clip  8  to block the motion of the clip  8  in the directions D of insertion and removal of the contact  3  to and from the housing  5  of the connector (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     Next, a description will be given of the clip of the connector shown in  FIG. 1  with reference to  FIGS. 5A to 6B . 
     The clip  8  includes a clip body  81 , a pair of spring pieces  82 , a pair of projections  83 , and a slit  84 . The clip  8  is made of an elastic metal material. The clip body  81  has a generally hollow cylindrical shape. The pair of spring pieces  82  are cantilevered, and tilted slightly inward of the clip body  81 . The pair of spring pieces  82  are opposed to each other in the radial direction of the clip body  81 . The pair of projections  83  are continuous with one end of the clip body  81  along the axial direction of the clip body  81 . The pair of projections  83  abut against the first stopper surface  68  of the main housing  6 . The pair of projections  83  are opposed to each other in the radial direction of the clip body  81 . The slit  84 , which is formed from one end of the clip body  81  through the other end thereof, extends in parallel with the axis of the clip body  81 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 2A to 2D , the shell  10  is comprised of a front shell  11  and a rear shell  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the front shell  11  includes a fitting portion  111  and a gripper portion  112 . The fitting portion  111  is fitted to the fitting portion of the shell of the mating connector. The fitting portion  111  covers the fitting portion  61  of the main housing  6 . The gripper portion  112  is continuous with the fitting portion  111 . The gripper portion  112  covers the gripper portion  62  of the main housing  6 . The gripper portion  112  has positioning protrusions  113  formed at four corners of a surface thereof opposite from the fitting portion  111  (see  FIG. 2A ). The gripper portion  112  has screw insertion holes  114  formed through opposite side portions thereof (see  FIG. 2B ). 
     Referring again to  FIG. 8 , the rear shell  12  has a substantially plate-like shape. The rear shell  12  has a central portion formed with a through hole  121  for exposing the contact-inserting portion  66 . Formed through opposite side portions of the rear shell  12  are thread insertion holes  122 . The thread insertion holes  122  are opposed to the thread insertion holes  114  of the front shell  11 , respectively. Male threads, not shown, to be screwed into female threads of the mating connector are inserted into the thread insertion holes  114  and  122 , respectively. The rear shell  12  has four corners formed with positioning recesses  123  (see  FIG. 2C ). The positioning recesses  123  are engaged with respective associated ones of the positioning protrusions  113  of the front shell  11 , for positioning the rear shell  12  with respect to the front shell  11 . 
     The front shell  11  and the rear shell  12  are connected by threads  13 . 
     Next, a description will be given how the connector shown in  FIG. 1  is assembled. 
     To assemble the connector, first, as shown in  FIG. 4 , each clip  8  is accommodated in the clip-accommodating hole  71  of the sub housing  7 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the sub housing  7  having the clips  8  mounted therein is accommodated in the sub housing-accommodating portion  67  of the main housing  6 . As a result, the respective associated ones of the guides  64 , the contact portion-accommodating portions  65 , the contact-inserting portions  66 , and the clip-accommodating holes  71  are arranged on the same straight lines, respectively, whereby the insertion holes  5   a  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) for inserting the respective associated socket contacts  3  are formed. 
     Further, each clip  8  is fixedly engaged with the first and second stopper surfaces  68  and  69 . 
     After that, each socket contact  3  is inserted into the associated insertion hole  5   a . The foremost ends of the spring pieces  82  of the clip  8  are engaged with the flange portion  32  of the socket contact  3 , whereby the socket contact  3  is inhibited from being drawn out from the insertion hole  5   a  (see  FIG. 1 ). Further, the sub housing  7  is inhibited from being drawn out from the sub housing-accommodating portion  67  by the socket contact  3 . 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the front shell  11  is fitted on the housing  5 , and the rear shell  12  is mounted on the bottom of theses. Further, the front shell  11  and the rear shell are firmly connected using the screws  13 , whereby the connector as the assembly of these components is completed. 
     To disassemble the connector, first, by removing the screws  13 , the front shell, the housing  5 , and the rear shell are disassembled. Then, the spring pieces  82  and the flange portions  32  are disengaged from each other by a jig, not shown, and the socket contacts  3  are drawn out from the insertion holes Sa together with the jig. After the socket contacts  3  are drawn out from the insertion holes  5   a , the sub housing  7  is drawn out from the sub housing-accommodating portion  67 . 
     When the sub housing  7  is drawn out from the sub housing-accommodating portion  67 , each clip  8  is disengaged from the first and second stopper surfaces  68  and  69 , and hence it is possible to draw out the clip  8  from the sub housing  7 . 
     According to the present embodiment, the housing  5  is comprised of the main housing  6  and the sub housing  7 , so that when the clip  8  is taken out from the housing  5 , there is no need to break the housing  5 , which makes it possible to reuse the housing  5  when the connector is repaired. 
     Next, a description will be given of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 10D . Component parts identical to those of the connector according to the first embodiment are designated by identical reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted, while only main component parts different in construction from those of the first embodiment will be described hereinafter. 
     A housing  205  is comprised of a main housing  206  and a sub housing  207 . 
     The main housing  206  includes a fitting portion  261  and a gripper portion  262 . The main housing  206  is formed with a plurality of holes (first holes)  263 . Each hole  263  includes the guide  64  and a contact-accommodating portion  265 . The contact-accommodating portion  265  has a small-diameter portion  265   a  and a large-diameter portion  265   b . A first stopper surface  268  is formed on the boundary between the small-diameter portion  265   a  and the large-diameter portion  265   b.    
     The sub housing  207  has a substantially plate-like shape, and is placed on the gripper portion  262  of the main housing  206 . The sub housing  207  is formed with through holes (second hole)  271 . Each through hole  271  has an inner diameter smaller in size than the inner diameter of the large-diameter portion  265   b  of the associated contact-accommodating portion  265  of the main housing  206 . Therefore, when the sub housing  207  is placed on the gripper portion  262  of the main housing  206 , a second stopper surface  269  is formed between the through hole  271  and the large-diameter portion  265   b.    
     The shell  210  is comprised of a front shell  211  and a rear shell  212 . 
     The front shell  211  includes a fitting portion  2111  and a gripper portion  2112 . The fitting portion  2111  and the gripper portion  2112  cover the fitting portion  261  of the main housing  206 . 
     The rear shell  212  is substantially in the form of a casing, and includes an accommodating portion  2121  and a through hole  2122 . The accommodating portion  2121  accommodates the gripper portion  262  of the main housing  206  and the sub housing  207 . The through hole  2122  communicates with the accommodating portion  2121 . The through hole  2122  is a hole through which the socket contacts  3  are inserted into the housing  205 . 
     To assemble the connector, first, each clip  8  is inserted into the large-diameter portion  265   b  of the contact-accommodating portion  265  of an associated one of the holes  263 . As a result, the protrusion  38  of the clip  8  is brought into abutment with the first stopper surface  268 . 
     After that, the gripper portion  262  of the main housing  206  and the sub housing  7  are placed on upon the other. As a result, each hole  263  and the associated through hole  271  are arranged on the same straight line, while forming the second stopper surface  269 . This causes the clip  8  to be fixedly engaged with the first and second stopper surfaces  268  and  269 . Further, an insertion hole  205   a  is formed by the hole  263  and the through hole  271 . 
     Next, the front shell  211  and the rear shell  212  are mounted on the housing  5 , and the shells  211  and  212  are connected by threads  213 . 
     Then, the socket contacts  3  are inserted into the insertion holes  205   a  through the through holes  271 , respectively. As a result, the foremost end of each sleeve  4  is brought into abutment with an end of the contact-accommodating portion  265  toward the guide  64 , and the foremost ends of the spring pieces  82  of the clip  8  are engaged with the flange portion  32  of an associated one of the socket contacts  3 , whereby the associated socket contact  3  is inhibited from being drawn out from the contact-accommodating portion  265 . 
     To disassemble the connector, first, the spring pieces  82  and the flange portions  32  are disengaged from each other by a jig, not shown, and the socket contacts  3  are drawn out from the insertion hole  205   a  together with the jig. After the socket contacts  3  are drawn out from the insertion holes  205   a , the threads  213  are removed from the shell  10 , and the front shell  211  and the rear shell  212  are disassembled from the housing  205 . 
     Subsequently, the sub housing  207  is removed from the main housing  206 . 
     When the sub housing  207  is removed from the main housing  206 , the clips  8  are disengaged from the second stopper surface  269 , so that it is possible to draw out the clips  8  from the main housing  206 . 
     According to the present embodiment, the housing  205  is comprised of the main housing  206  and the sub housing  207 , and therefore when the clips  8  are taken out from the housing  205 , there is no need to break the housing  205 , which makes it possible to reuse the housing  205  when the connector is repaired. 
     Further, the first stopper surfaces  268  formed in the main housing  206  are not configured such that they can be disengaged from the clips  8 , but only the second stopper surfaces  269  are configured such that they can be disengaged from the clips  8 . This makes it possible to simplify the configurations of the main housing  206  and the sub housing  207 . 
     As described above, the second embodiment makes it possible to obtain the same advantageous effects as provided by the first embodiment, and simplify the shapes of the main housing  206  and the sub housing  207 . Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the manufacturing costs of the connector than the first embodiment. 
     It should be noted that although in the above-described embodiments, the socket contacts are used as contacts, this is not limitative, but it is also possible to use e.g. pin contacts. 
     Further, although in the above-described embodiments, the connectors include shells  10  and  210 , respectively, the invention can be applied to a connector which does not include any shells. 
     It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing are the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that various changes and modification may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.