Patent Publication Number: US-10326232-B2

Title: Connector connecting member enabling holding-side connectors to be connected easily to device-side connectors

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a connector connecting member for connecting holding-side connectors to device-side connectors and a connector connecting structure obtained by the connector connecting member. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Patent No. 5303378 discloses an outer housing to be fixed to a case. The outer housing includes a tubular accommodating portion for accommodating an inner housing. Springs are arranged between an inner wall of the accommodating portion and the inner housing for displaceably accommodating the inner housing. The springs absorb a displacement between the inner housing and the mating connector. 
     If the mating connector is provided in an electrical device and the electrical device is in a state movable beyond a resilient range of the springs, it is difficult for the inner housing to reach a position where the inner housing is connectable to the mating connector and it may not be possible to perform a connecting operation smoothly. Further, a, workload is large if an attempt is made to connect the inner housing to each of the mating connectors when plural mating connectors are arranged side by side. 
     The invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to provide a connector connecting member and a connector connecting structure enabling holding-side connectors to be easily connected to device-side connectors. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is directed to a connector connecting member for connecting holding-side connectors to device-side connectors provided in a plurality of electrical devices. The connector connecting member includes connector holding portions arranged side by side in a direction intersecting a connecting direction of the device-side connectors and the holding-side connectors and is configured to hold the holding-side connectors. Restrictions are arranged adjacent to the connector holding portions and are configured to restrict movements of the electrical devices by contacting with the electrical devices and align the holding-side connectors at positions connectable to the device-side connectors. 
     The holding-side connectors are held by the connector holding portions and, in that state, the connector connecting member is brought closer to the respective device-side connectors. Thus, the respective holding-side connectors can be connected collectively to the respective device-side connectors. In this case, the restrictions of the connector connecting member restrict the movements of the electrical devices by contacting the electrical devices and the holding-side connectors are aligned at the positions connectable to the device-side connectors. Thus, a connecting operation of the connectors can be performed quickly and easily. 
     The restrictions may be arranged at both sides across the connector holding portions. The restrictions reliably restrict movements of the electrical devices. Further, this does not particularly complicate a structure. 
     The connector connecting member may comprise a plate, and the connector holding portions are recesses open at intervals on one side edge of the plate. The restricting portions project along plate surfaces of the plate from another side edge facing the one side edge. The connector holding portions and the restriction have a simple structure and are provided collectively on the plate. Thus, the structure of the connector connecting member need not become complicated and interference between the connector connecting member and peripheral components can be avoided easily. 
     The connector connecting member may be moved toward the device-side connectors in a connecting process with the holding-side connectors held by the connector holding portions, and the restrictions may have stopper surfaces for stopping a movement of the connector connecting member by contacting the electrical devices. The contact of the stopper surfaces of the restricting portions and the electrical devices prevents the separation of the connector connecting member and the holding-side connectors from the device-side connectors. 
     The holding-side connectors held by the connector holding portions in the connector connecting member may be connected to the corresponding device-side connectors. According to this configuration, the holding-side connectors can be maintained in an aligned state after being connected to the corresponding device-side connectors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a state before holding-side connectors are held by a connector connecting member and connected to device-side connectors provided in electrical devices in one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state where restricting portions of the connector connecting member come into contact with the electrical devices from the state of  FIG. 1  to restrict movements of the electrical devices. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state where the holding-side connectors and the device-side connectors are properly connected from the state of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view showing the state of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view showing the state of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view showing the state of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a view enlargedly showing a connecting structure of a pair of the holding-side connector and the device-side connector in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing a state where the movement of the electrical device is restricted by the connector connecting member. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a state where the holding-side connectors are held by the connector connecting member. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a housing of the holding-side connector. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the connector connecting member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 11 . The embodiment illustrates a connector connecting member  10  for holding holding-side connectors  60  as connection partners of device-side connectors  80  provided in solenoids  90  (electrical devices) and collectively connecting the respective holding-side connectors  60  to the corresponding device-side connectors  80 , and a connector connecting structure using the connector connecting member  10 . In the following description, a vertical direction is based on a use state (see  FIGS. 1 to 4 ) and corresponds to a direction of gravity. Further, a front-rear direction is a direction in which the holding-side connectors  60  and the device-side connectors  80  are connected to each other (connecting direction), and a side of each holding-side connector  60  facing the corresponding device-side connector  80  at the start of connection is referred to as a front side. 
     The solenoid  90  is mounted in an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle to control a hydraulic pressure. The automatic transmission includes a body  70  (including a case of the automatic transmission) as shown in  FIG. 1 , and solenoids  90  are assembled side by side in a width direction (lateral direction of  FIG. 4 ). Note that the width direction of this embodiment is a direction intersecting the connecting direction of the connectors  60 ,  80  and means a juxtaposition direction of the respective solenoids  90  and the respective holding-side connectors  60 . The solenoid  90  is cylindrical and is inserted into a valve inserting portion  71  open in the front surface of the body  70 . The solenoid  90  inserted into the valve inserting portion  71  is fixed to the body  70  by a fixing tool such as an unillustrated pin, but is rotatable about an axis to some extent. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , areas of the outer peripheral surface of the solenoid  90  on both widthwise sides and a substantially rear half are cut to provide two restriction receiving portions  91 . The restriction receiving portions  91  have flat back surfaces  92  with a rectangular planar shape and are parallel to each other along the vertical direction. Stopper receiving surfaces  93  having an arcuate planar shape are arranged along the width direction to be perpendicular to the front ends of the back surfaces  92  and facing surfaces  94  are arranged parallel to the stopper receiving surfaces  93  to be perpendicular to the rear ends of the back surfaces  92 . 
     The device-side connector  80  is provided integrally in an area of the outer peripheral surface of the solenoid  90  on an upper end and a substantially front half. The device-side connector  80  includes a receptacle  81  that is made of synthetic resin and is formed into a rearwardly-open rectangular tube. Two tab-like device-side terminals  82  project into the receptacle  81 . End parts of the device-side terminals  82  that are opposite to the ends projecting into the receptacle  81  and are connected electrically to coils accommodated in the solenoid  90 . Further, a substantially rectangular lock hole  83  is provided to penetrate vertically through the upper wall of the receptacle  81 . 
     The holding-side connector  60  includes a housing  61  made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the housing  61  is a rectangular block long in the front-rear direction. Two cavities  62  are provided in the width direction inside the housing  61 . The cavity  62  penetrates through the housing  61  in the front-rear direction and a holding-side terminal  63  (see  FIG. 7 ) is inserted and accommodated therein. The holding-side terminal  63  is formed such as by bending a long and narrow conductive metal plate. A front end part of the holding-side terminal  63  has a tubular shape and the device-side terminal  82  is inserted therein to be connected at the time of connection. On the other hand, a rear end part of the holding-side terminal  63  is in the form of an open barrel and electrically and mechanically connected to an end part of a wire  100 . 
     A lock  64  projects on the upper surface of the housing  61 . The lock projection  64  is inserted into the receptacle  81  in a connecting process to deflect and deform the upper wall of the receptacle  81 . The deflected state of the upper wall is released at the time of proper connection and the lock  64  is fit into the lock hole  83  to hold the holding-side connector  60  and the device-side connector  80  in a state where separation is restricted. Two engaging portions  65  protrude on rear end sides of both side surfaces of the housing  61 . Each engaging portion  65  is constituted by front and rear ribs  66  extending in parallel to each other in the vertical direction. The rear rib  66  is arranged such that the rear surface is continuous and flush with the rear surface of the housing  61 . Both side edges of a later-described connector holding portion  12  can fit into grooves having a rectangularly recessed cross-section defined between the front and rear ribs  66 . 
     The connector connecting member  10  is made of metal and constituted by a plate  11  long in the width direction, as shown in  FIG. 11 . The plate  11  is formed by stamping a flat plate and is arranged entirely along the width direction and the vertical direction while the plate surfaces thereof are facing in the front-rear direction. That is, the plate  11  has no part bent in the front-rear direction. Further, the plate  11  has a plate thickness slightly larger than a dimension between the front and rear ribs  66  in the housing  61 . 
     The upper end edge (one side edge along the width direction) of the plate  11  is recessed at intervals in the width direction to provide a plurality of the connector holding portions  12 . The respective connector holding portions  12  are arranged at specified intervals to correspond to intervals between the respective device-side connectors  80  with the respective solenoids  90  assembled with the body  70 . Further, each connector holding portion  12  has a rectangular opening when viewed in the front-rear direction, and the housing  61  is inserted therein from above. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the housing  61  is held on the plate  11  with both side edge parts (both sides of a recess) of the connector holding portion  12  inserted between the front and rear ribs  66 . 
     Restrictions  13  project at intervals in the width direction on the lower end edge (other side edge facing one side edge and extending along the width direction) of the plate  11 . The respective restrictions  13  are arranged at intervals corresponding to a separation distance in the width direction between the restriction receiving portions  91  (distance between the back surfaces  92 ) in the solenoid  90  at both sides across the connector holding portions  12  in the width direction. The restrictions  13  paired across the connector holding portion  12  are arranged at a large separation distance from each other in the width direction, and the restrictions  13  paired between adjacent connector holding portions  12  are arranged at a small separation distance from each other in the width direction. Further, the restriction  13  is a long narrow strip projecting in the vertical direction along the plate surfaces of the plate  11 . The front surface (front plate surface) of the restriction  13  is configured as a stopper surface  14  extending along the vertical direction. Note that the lower end edge of the plate  11  is arranged along the width direction except at parts corresponding to the respective restrictions  13  and, similarly, the upper end edge of the plate  11  is arranged along the width direction except at parts corresponding to the respective connector holding portions  12 . 
     Next, a method for connecting the holding-side connectors  60  and the device-side connectors  80  utilizing the connector connecting member  10  structured as described above and the connector connecting structure are described. 
     First, the holding-side connectors  60  are inserted into the connector holding portions  12  of the plate  11  (see  FIG. 9 ). In the process of inserting the holding-side connector  60 , the side edge parts of the connector holding portion  12  slide between the front and rear ribs  66  in the engaging portions  65  of the housing  61  and a mounting operation of the holding-side connector  60  onto the plate  11  is guided. When the insertion of the holding-side connector  60  is completed, the housing  61  is fit between the front and rear ribs  66  over the entire height, and the holding-side connector  60  is held on the plate  11 . However, the holding-side connector  60  is movable in the range of clearances between the front and rear ribs  66 . 
     The plate  11  is located above the respective solenoids  90  after the corresponding holding-side connectors  60  are inserted into the connector holding portions  12 . At this time, the plate  11  is positioned roughly so that widthwise central parts of the solenoids  90  are located below the connector holding portions  12  (see  FIG. 1 ). In that state, the plate  11  is lowered. In the process of lowering the plate  11 , the restrictions  13  paired across the connector holding portions  12  are slidable on the back surfaces  91  of the restriction receiving portions  91  of the solenoids  90  and each solenoid  90  is located to be sandwiched in the width direction between two restrictions  13 . Here, if the solenoid  90  is rotated about an axis from a proper position (see  FIG. 8 ), the restrictions  13  slide on the back surfaces  92  of the restriction receiving portions  91  after sliding on the outer peripheral surface of the solenoid  90 , the solenoid  90  rotates to return to the proper position and the back surfaces  92  of the restriction receiving portions  91  are arranged to extend along the vertical direction as the plate  11  is lowered. In this way, the posture of the solenoid  90  is corrected and the movement (rotation) of the solenoid  90  is restricted by being restrained between the two restrictions  13 . 
     When the plate  11  is lowered to a proper position, the holding-side connectors  60  held by the respective connector holding portions  12  reach positions opposed to the device-side connectors  80  provided in the solenoids  90  in the front-rear direction (see  FIG. 2 ). In that state, the plate  11  is moved forward. In the process of moving the plate  11 , the restrictions  13  can slide on the back surfaces  92  of the restriction receiving portions  91 . Thus, the solenoids  90  are maintained in a rotationally restricted state between two restrictions  13  and, simultaneously, the holding-side connectors  60  are maintained in a state opposed to the device-side connectors  80 . 
     When the plate  11  moves farther forward, the stopper surfaces  14  of the restrictions  13  come into surface contact with the stopper receiving surfaces  93  of the restriction receiving portions  91  to restrict any further forward movement of the plate  11  (see  FIG. 7 ). Further, the housings  61  of the holding-side connectors  60  are inserted into the receptacles  81  of the device-side connectors  80 . At this time, the housings  61  move in the range of clearances to the connector holding portions  12 , thereby being smoothly guided into the receptacles  81 . With the forward movement of the plate  11  restricted, the housings  61  are inserted to a proper depth in the receptacles  81 , the lock projections  64  are fit in the lock holes  83 , the holding-side connectors  60  are held in the device-side connectors  80  in a state where separation is restricted, and the holding-side terminals  63  are connected electrically to the device-side terminals  82 . In this way, as the plate  11  moves, the holding-side connectors  60  held by the respective connector holding portions  12  are connected substantially simultaneously to the corresponding device-side connectors  80  at once. Thereafter, the plate  11  is sandwiched between each holding-side connector  60  and each solenoid  90  and an assembled state is held. 
     As described above, the holding-side connectors  60  are held by the respective connector holding portions  12  of the plate  11  and, in that state, the entire plate  11  is brought closer to the device-side connectors  80  provided in the respective solenoids  90 . Thus, the respective holding-side connectors  60  can be connected collectively to the respective device-side connectors  80 . In this case, the respective restrictions  13  of the plate  11  come into contact with the restriction receiving portions  91  to restrict movements of the solenoids  90  and the respective holding-side connectors  60  are aligned at positions connectable to the corresponding device-side connectors  80 . Thus, a connecting operation of the respective holding-side connectors  60  and the respective device-side connectors  80  can be performed quickly and easily. 
     Further, since the restrictions  13  are arranged at both sides across the connector holding portions  12  in the width direction, the movements of the solenoids  90  can be reliably restricted by sandwiching the solenoids  90  from both sides in the width direction. Further, the structure of the entire plate  11  does not become complicated. 
     The entire connector connecting member  10  is constituted by the long plate  11 , the connector holding portions  12  are recesses open at intervals on the upper edge of the plate  11 , and the restrictions  13  project along the plate surfaces of the plate  11  from the lower edge of the plate  11 . Thus, the connector holding portions  12  and the restrictions  13  having a simple structure are collectively provided on the long plate  11 . As a result, the structure of the plate  11  needs not be complicated. 
     Furthermore, the stopper surfaces  14  of the restrictions  13  come into contact with the stopper receiving surfaces  93  of the restriction receiving portions  91 . Thus, further forward movement of the plate  11  is restricted and the separation of the plate  11  and the respective holding-side connectors  60  from the respective device-side connectors  80  can be prevented. 
     The respective holding-side connectors  60  are held by the connector holding portions  12  and an aligned state thereof is maintained also after being connected to the respective device-side connectors  80 , the stability of the connected state can be ensured. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention are briefly described. 
     The connector connecting member may move only in one direction toward the device-side connectors. 
     The connector connecting member may be separated from the respective holding-side connectors after the respective holding-side connectors are connected to the device-side connectors. 
     The device-side connector may be provided in an electrical device other than the solenoid such as a hydraulic pressure sensor of the automatic transmission. 
     The connector connecting member may be constituted by a plate having a part bent in the front-rear direction. 
     The connector connecting member may be in the form of a block instead of in the form of a plate. 
     The connector connecting member may be provided with a wire accommodating portion for accommodating the wires pulled out from the respective holding-side connectors. 
     The restricting portions paired at both sides of the connector holding portion may be inclined to be more separated toward the tips and formed to guide the outer peripheral surface of the solenoid (electrical device). 
     One restricting portion may come into contact with one solenoid (electrical device) to restrict the movement of the solenoid. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10  . . . connector connecting member 
           11  . . . plate 
           12  . . . connector holding portion 
           13  . . . restrict 
           14  . . . stopper surface 
           60  . . . holding-side connector 
           80  . . . device-side connector 
           90  . . . solenoid (electrical device)