Patent Publication Number: US-2023134481-A1

Title: Connector

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Patent Document 1 discloses a connector requiring a reduced operation force at the time of connection. This connector is configured by rotatably mounting a lever on a housing. In connecting the connector to a mating connector, a rotational force is given to an operating portion of the lever with a cam groove of the lever and a cam follower of the mating connector engaged. Then, an operation force to be given to the lever is reduced by a boosting action by the principle of leverage. 
     Prior Art Document 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document 1: JP 2019-129079 A 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to Be Solved 
     Since the lever rotates about an axis orthogonal to a connecting direction of the connector and the mating connector, an arcuate space for allowing the rotation of the operating portion of the lever is necessary around the connector. Since the arcuate space has to be secured to bulge toward an outer peripheral side of the connector, it is difficult to perform a connecting operation in a narrow space. 
     A connector of the present disclosure was completed on the basis of the above situation and aims to realize space saving. 
     Means to Solve the Problem 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a first housing, a second housing connectable to the first housing, a guide functional unit for enabling the first and second housings to approach/separate from each other in a relatively unrotatable state, a rotary member for surrounding the first and second housings, the rotary member being rotatable about an axis parallel to a connecting direction of the first and second housings, and a cam functional unit for causing the first and second housings to approach each other as the rotary member is relatively rotated with respect to the first and second housings. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, space saving can be realized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a section showing a state where the connection of a first housing and a second housing is started in a connector of one embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a section showing a state while the first and second housings are being connected. 
         FIG.  3    is a section showing a state where the connection of the first and second housings is completed. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the first housing viewed obliquely from behind. 
         FIG.  5    is a section of the first housing. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the second housing viewed obliquely from front. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a rotary member viewed obliquely from front. 
         FIG.  8    is a section of the rotary member. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of an operating member viewed obliquely from front. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION 
     Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     The connector of the present disclosure is provided with a first housing, a second housing connectable to the first housing, a guide functional unit for enabling the first and second housings to approach/separate from each other in a relatively unrotatable state, a rotary member for surrounding the first and second housings, the rotary member being rotatable about an axis parallel to a connecting direction of the first and second housings, and a cam functional unit for causing the first and second housings to approach each other as the rotary member is relatively rotated with respect to the first and second housings. According to the configuration of the present disclosure, if the rotary member is rotated, the first and second housings are brought closer and connected to each other by the cam functional unit. Since the rotary member rotates about the axis parallel to the connecting direction of the first and second housings, an arcuately bulging operation space needs not be secured on outer peripheral sides of the both housings. Therefore, the connector of the present disclosure can realize space saving. 
     (2) Preferably, the guide functional unit is configured by fitting a first guide portion formed in the first housing and a second guide portion formed in the second housing. According to this configuration, the number of components can be reduced as compared to the case where the guide functional unit is a component separate from the first and second housings. 
     (3) Preferably, in (2), one of the first and second guide portions is a projection-like guide portion, the housing not formed with the projection-like guide portion, out of the first and second housings, is formed with a spiral guiding portion, and the first and second guide portions relatively rotate to be positioned to fit each other by sliding the projection-like guide portion in contact with the guiding portion. According to this configuration, even if the first and second guide portions are deviated in position in a circumferential direction in the process of bringing the first and second housings closer to each other, the first and second guide portions can be fit by the spiral guiding portion. 
      (4) Preferably, in (1) to (3), the cam functional unit includes a spiral cam groove formed in one peripheral surface, out of an inner peripheral surface of the rotary member and an outer peripheral surface of the first housing, and a cam follower formed on the other peripheral surface, out of the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member and the outer peripheral surface of the first housing, the cam follower sliding along the cam groove. According to this configuration, since the cam functional unit is formed in the rotary member and the first housing, the number of components can be reduced as compared to the case where the cam functional unit is a component separate from the rotary member and the first housing. 
     (5) Preferably, in (4), the rotary member and the second housing are formed with a holding portion for holding the second housing in such a state that the second housing is not relatively displaced in a direction away from the first housing with respect to the rotary member. According to this configuration, if the rotary member is relatively displaced in the axial direction while being relatively rotated with respect to the first housing, the second housing is displaced in the axial direction integrally with the rotary member. In this way, the second housing is connected to the first housing. 
     (6) Preferably, in (1) to (5), the rotary member is formed with an opening penetrating from an outer peripheral surface to an inner peripheral surface of the rotary member. According to this configuration, a connected state of the first and second housings can be visually confirmed from the outside of the rotary member. 
     (7) Preferably, in (1) to (6), a tubular operating member is provided which is disabled to relatively rotate with respect to the first and second housings and is formed with a spiral drive groove in an inner peripheral surface, and a driven projection configured to slide in the drive groove is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rotary member. According to this configuration, if the operating member is relatively displaced in the axial direction with respect to the rotary member, the rotary member is rotationally driven and the first and second housings are connected or separated. Since a moving direction of the operating member is the axial direction, a space for operating the operating member is unnecessary on the outer peripheral sides of the first and second housings. 
     Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Embodiment 
     A specific embodiment of a connector of the present disclosure is described below with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  9   . Note that the present invention is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents. In this embodiment, a left side of  FIGS.  1  to  3 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8  and  9    is defined as a front side concerning a front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  to  3   , a connector of this embodiment includes a first housing  10 , a second housing  20 , a rotary member  30  and an operating member  40 . The first and second housings  10 ,  20  are connected by being brought closer in an axial direction with a first connection surface  10 F of the first housing  10  and a second connection surface  20 F of the second housing  20  facing each other. A “connecting direction” of the first and second housings  10 ,  20  and the “axial direction” of the first housing  10 , the second housing  20 , the rotary member  30  and the operating member  40   are used as synonyms. 
     The first housing  10  is made of synthetic resin and has a cylindrical shape having an axis oriented in the front-rear direction as a whole. Female first terminal fittings  11  connected to first wires  12  are accommodated inside the first housing  10 . The first wires  12  are drawn out to the outside of the first housing  10  from the front end surface of the first housing  10 . The rear end surface of the first housing  10  serves as the first connection surface  10 F facing the second housing  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the first housing  10  is integrally formed with a pair of guiding portions  13  and one first guide portion  15 . The pair of guiding portions  13  have a line-symmetrical shape in a back view from behind the first housing  10 . Each guiding portion  13  is formed by recessing a region more on an outer peripheral side than the first terminal fittings  11  into a semicircular groove concentric with the first housing  10 . The back surfaces of the pair of guiding portions  13  function as spiral guiding surfaces  14  inclined with respect to the axis of the first housing  10 . Spiral directions of the pair of guiding surfaces  14  are opposite to each other. 
     The first guide portion  15  is recessed backward (forward) in parallel to the axis from backmost end parts of the pair of guiding surfaces  14 . The first guide portion  15  constitutes a guide functional unit  45  in cooperation with a second guide portion  25  of the second housing  20  to be described later. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , a pair of projection-like cam followers  16  separated by an interval of 180° in a circumferential direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first housing  10 . The cam followers  16  constitute a cam functional unit  46  in cooperation of cam grooves  32  of the rotary member  30  to be described later. A flange portion  17  having a circular shape concentric with the first housing  10  and expanded in diameter is formed on the outer periphery of a front end part of the first housing  10 . A detent projection  18  is formed on the outer periphery of the flange portion  17 . 
     The second housing  20  is made of synthetic resin and has a cylindrical shape having an axis oriented in the front-rear direction as a whole. As shown in  FIG.  1   , male second terminal fittings  21  connected to second wires  22  are accommodated inside the second housing  20 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , tabs  21 T on the front ends of the second wires  22  project forward from the front end surface of the second housing  20 . The second wires  22  are drawn out to the outside of the second housing  20  from the rear end surface of the second housing  20 . The front end surface of the second housing  20  serves as the second connection surface  20 F facing the first housing  10 . 
     The second housing  20  is integrally formed with a pair of projecting wall portions  23  and one second guide portion  25 . The pair of projecting wall portions  23  have a line-symmetrical shape in a front view from front of the second housing  20 . Each projecting wall portion  23  is formed by causing a region more on an outer peripheral side than the second terminal fittings  21  to project into a semicircular shape concentric with the second housing  20 . Projecting end surfaces  24  of the pair of projecting wall portions  23  are spirally inclined with respect to the axis of the second housing  20 . Spiral directions of the pair of projecting end surfaces  24  are opposite to each other. A spiral pitch of the pair of projecting end surfaces  24  is equal to that of the pair of guiding surfaces  14 . 
     The second guide portion  25  projects forward in parallel to the axis from foremost end parts of the pair of projecting end surfaces  24 . The second guide portion  25  is a projection-like guide portion. A pair of holding projections  26  separated by an interval of 180° in the circumferential direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second housing  20 . The holding projections  26  constitute a holding portion  47  in cooperation with a holding groove  33  of the rotary member  30  to be described later. 
     The rotary member  30  is made of synthetic resin and has a cylindrical shape having an axis oriented in the front-rear direction as a whole. As shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the rotary member  30  is configured by coaxially uniting a hollow cylindrical front component  31 F and a hollow cylindrical rear component  31 R in the front-rear direction. The spiral cam grooves  32  are formed in the inner peripheral surface of the front component  31 F. A formation range of the cam grooves  32  in the axial direction is a region from the front end of the rotary member  30  (front component  31 F) to a position forward of the rear end of the rotary member (front component  31 F). The front ends of the cam grooves  32  are open as entrances for allowing the cam followers  16  of the first housing  10  to enter the cam grooves  32 . A spiral pitch of the cam grooves  32  is set smaller than that of drive grooves  41  of the operating member  40  to be described later. As show in  FIG.  1   , the cam grooves  32  constitute the cam functional unit  46  in cooperation with the cam followers  16  of the first housing  10  to be described later. 
     The holding groove  33  is formed in a region behind the cam groove  32 , out of the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member  30 . The holding groove  33  is not spiral, but has a true circular shape on a virtual plane orthogonal to the axis. The holding groove  33  is constituted by a cut portion formed in the inner periphery of a rear end part of the front component  31 F and having a quarter circular cross-section and a cut portion formed in the inner periphery of a front end part of the rear component  31 R and having a quarter circular cross-section. The holding groove  33  constitutes the holding portion  47  in cooperation of the aforementioned holding projections  26  of the second housing  20 . 
     A pair of driven projections  34  separated by an interval of 180° in the circumferential direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary member  30 . The driven projections  34  constitute a rotational force transmitter  48  in cooperation with the drive grooves  41  of the operating member  40  to be described later. The rotary member  30  is formed with a pair of openings  35 . The openings  35  penetrate from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member  30 . In the axial direction, the openings  35  are disposed between the cam grooves  32  and the holding groove  33 . The first connection surface  10 F of the first housing  10  and the second connection surface  20 F of the second housing  20  butt against each other between the cam grooves  32  and the holding groove  33 . 
     The operating member  40  has a cylindrical shape having an axis oriented in the front-rear direction as a whole. The spiral drive grooves  41  are formed in the inner peripheral surface of the operating member  40 . The spiral pitch of the drive grooves  41  is set larger than that of the cam grooves  32  of the rotary member  30 . The front ends of the drive grooves  41  are open in the front end surface of the operating member  40 . One detent groove  42  is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the operating member  40 . The front end of the detent groove  42  is open in the front end surface of the operating member  40 . The detent groove  42  linearly extends in parallel to the axis. 
     Next, an operation procedure of connecting the first and second housings  10 ,  20  in the connector of this embodiment is described. First, the second housing  20  and the rotary member  30  are assembled. In assembling, the front and rear components  31 F,  31 R are separated, the front component  31 F is externally fit to the outer periphery of the first housing  10  from front, and the rear component  31 R is externally fit to the outer periphery of the first housing  10  from behind. If the front and rear components  31 F,  31 R are united, the holding projections  26  are fit into the holding groove  33  at the same time as the holding groove  33  is configured. In the above way, the assembling of the rotary member  30  and the second housing  20  is completed. 
     With the rotary member  30  and the second housing  20  assembled, the holding projections  26  are caught in the holding groove  33 , thereby making relative displacements of the second housing  20  and the rotary member  30  in the axial direction (both forward and rearward directions) impossible. The holding projections  26  and the holding groove  33  slide in contact with each other, whereby the second housing  20  and the rotary member  30  are relatively rotatable. 
     Subsequently, the first housing  10  and the rotary member  30  are assembled. In assembling, a rear end part of the first housing  10  is inserted into the rotary member  30  from front of the rotary member  30 . At this time, the cam followers  16  of the second housing  20  are inserted into front end parts of the cam grooves  32 . At this point of time, the first and second housings  10 ,  20  are not connected yet, and the first and second guide portions  15 ,  25  are also not fit yet. In the above way, the first housing  10 , the second housing  20  and the rotary member  30  are assembled. 
     After the first housing  10 , the second housing  20  and the rotary member  30  are assembled, a front end part of the operating member  40  is externally fit to a rear end part of the rotary member  30  and the driven projections  34  are inserted into the drive grooves  41 . Subsequently, the detent projection  18  of the first housing  10  is fit into a front end part of the detent groove  42 . In this state, the first and second housings  10 ,  20  are disabled to relatively rotate with respect to the operating member  40 , but the operating member  40  can be relatively displaced forward in the axial direction with respect to the first and second housings  10 ,  20 . 
     Thereafter, the first housing  10  and the operating member  40  are brought closer to each other in the axial direction without being relatively rotated. Then, the drive grooves  41  of the operating member  40  and the driven projections  34  of the rotary member  30  slide each other, wherefore the rotary member  30  is relatively rotationally driven with respect to the first and second housings  10 ,  20  by the inclination of the drive grooves  41 . At this time, friction resistance caused by the sliding of the cam grooves  32  and the cam followers  16  is generated, but the rotary member  30  can be reliably rotated even if an operation force in the axial direction applied to the operating member  40  is small since the spiral pitch of the drive grooves  41  is larger than that of the cam grooves  32 . 
     If the rotary member  30  is relatively rotated, the cam grooves  32  and the cam followers  16  slide each other, and the rotary member  30  and the first housing  10  are relatively displaced in the axial direction by the inclination of the cam grooves  32 . At this time, a relative displacement direction of the rotary member  30  with respect to the first housing  10  is a forward direction. The rotary member  30  and the second housing  20  integrally move due to the fitting of the holding groove  33  and the holding projections  26 . Therefore, if the operating member  40  and the first housing  10  are brought closer, the first and second housings  10 ,  20  are brought closer and connected. 
     The connector of this embodiment is provided with the first housing  10 , the second housing  20  connectable to the first housing  10 , the guide functional unit  45 , the rotary member  30  and the cam functional unit  46 . The guide functional unit  45  is a functional part for enabling the first and second housings  10 ,  20  to approach/separate from each other in a relatively unrotatable state. The rotary member  30  surrounds the first and second housings  10 ,  20 . The rotary member  30  is rotatable about the axis parallel to the connecting direction of the first and second housings  10 ,  20 . In short, the rotary member  30  is rotatable about the axis. The cam functional unit  46  causes the first and second housings  10 ,  20  to approach each other as the rotary member  30  is relatively rotated with respect to the first and second housings  10 ,  20 . 
     According to this configuration, if the rotary member  30  is rotated, the first and second housings  10 ,  20  are brought closer and connected by the cam functional unit  46 . Since the rotary member  30  is rotated about the axis parallel to the connecting direction of the first and second housings  10 ,  20 , it is not necessary to secure an arcuately bulging operation space on the outer peripheral sides of the both housings. Therefore, the connector of the present disclosure can realize space saving. 
      The guide functional unit  45  is configured by fitting the first guide portion  15  formed in the first housing  10  and the second guide portion  25  formed in the second housing  20 . The first guide portion  15  constituting the guide functional unit  45  is integrally formed to the first housing  10 , and the second guide portion  25  constituting the guide functional unit  45  is integrally formed to the second housing  20 . Therefore, the connector of the present disclosure can reduce the number of components as compared to the case where the guide functional unit  45  is a component separate from the first and second housings  10 ,  20 . 
     Out of the first and second guide portions  15 ,  25 , the second guide portion  25  is a projection-like guide portion. Out of the first and second housings  10 ,  20 , the second housing  20  not formed with the projection-like guide portion (second guide portion  25 ) is formed with the spiral guiding portions  13 . The first and second guide portions  15 ,  25  relatively rotate to be positioned to fit each other by sliding the projection-like guide portion (second guide portion  25 ) in contact with the guiding portion  13 . 
     According to this configuration, even if the first and second guide portions  15 ,  25  are deviated in position in the circumferential direction in the process of bringing the first and second housings  10 ,  20  closer, the front end part of the second guide portion  25  slides in contact with the spiral guiding portion  13 . By this sliding contact, the second guide portion  25  is guided to approach the first guide portion  15 , wherefore the first and second guide portions  15 ,  25  can be reliably fit. 
     The cam functional unit  46  includes the spiral cam grooves  32  formed in the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member  30  and the cam followers  16  formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first housing  10 . The cam followers  16  slide along the cam grooves  32  as the rotary member  30  and the first housing  10  are relatively rotated. The cam grooves  32  constituting the cam functional unit  46  are integrally formed in the rotary member  30 , and the cam followers  16  constituting the cam functional unit  46  are integrally formed in the first housing  10 . Therefore, the connector of this embodiment can reduce the number of components as compared to the case where the cam functional unit  46  is a component separate from the rotary member  30  and the first housing  10 . 
     The rotary member  30  is integrally formed with the holding groove  33  constituting the holding portion  47 . The second housing  20  is integrally formed with the holding projections  26  constituting the holding portion  47 . The holding groove  33  and the holding projections  26  hold the second housing  20  in such a state that the second housing  20  is not relatively displaced in a direction away from the first housing  10  with respect to the rotary member  30 . According to this configuration, if the rotary member  30  is relatively displaced forward in the axial direction while being relatively rotated with respect to the first housing  10 , the second housing  20  is displaced forward in the axial direction integrally with the rotary member  30 . In this way, the second housing  20  is connected to the first housing  10 . 
     The rotary member  30  is formed with the openings  35  penetrating from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member  30 . According to this configuration, the connected state of the first and second housings  10 ,  20  can be visually confirmed from the outside of the rotary member  30 . 
      The connector of this embodiment includes the tubular operating member  40  disabled to relatively rotate with respect to the first and second housings  10 ,  20  and formed with the spiral drive grooves  41  in the inner peripheral surface. The driven projections  34  configured to slide in the drive grooves  41  are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary member  30 . According to this configuration, if the operating member  40  is relatively displaced in the axial direction with respect to the rotary member  30 , the rotary member  30  is rotationally driven and the first and second housings  10 ,  20  are connected or separated. Since a moving direction of the operating member  40  is the axial direction, a space for operating the operating member  40  is unnecessary on the outer peripheral sides of the first and second housings  10 ,  20 . 
     Other Embodiments 
     The present invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment and is represented by claims. The present invention is intended to include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents and also include the following embodiments. 
     Although the first guide portion has a recessed shape and the second guide portion has a projecting shape in the above embodiment, the first guide portion may have a projecting shape and the second guide portion may have a recessed shape. 
     Although the guide functional unit is formed in the first and second housings in the above embodiment, the guide functional unit may be a component separate from the first and second housings. 
     Although the first and second housings are formed with the spiral guiding portions in the above embodiment, the spiral guiding portions may not be provided. 
     Although the cam functional unit is formed in the rotary member and the first housing in the above embodiment, the cam functional unit may be a component separate from the rotary member and the first housing. 
     Although the cam grooves are formed in the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member and the cam followers are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first housing in the above embodiment, the cam grooves may be formed in the outer peripheral surface of the first housing and the cam followers may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member. 
     Although the holding portion is composed of the holding groove formed in the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member and the holding projections formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second housing in the above embodiment, a holding portion may be composed of a holding groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the second housing and holding projections formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member. 
     Although the rotary member is formed with the openings in the above embodiment, the rotary member may include no opening. 
     Although the rotary member is rotated using the operating member in the above embodiment, the rotary member may be directly rotated without using the operating member. 
     Although the operating member and the first housing are connected to disable the operating member to relatively rotate with respect to the first and second housings in the above embodiment, the operating member and the second housing may be connected. 
     Although the first housing includes the female terminal fittings and the second housing includes the male terminal fittings in the above embodiment, the first housing may include male terminal fittings and the second housing may include female terminal fittings. 
     List of Reference Numerals 
       10  ... first housing 
       10 F ... first connection surface     11  ... first terminal fitting     12  ... first wire     13  ... guiding portion     14  ... guiding surface     15  ... first guide portion     16  ... cam follower     17  ... flange portion     18  ... detent projection     20  ... second housing     20 F ... second connection surface     21  ... second terminal fitting     21 T ... tab     22  ... second wire     23  ... projecting wall portion     24  ... projecting end surface     25  ... second guide portion     26  ... holding projection     30  ... rotary member     31 F ... front component     31 R ... rear component     32  ... cam groove     33  ... holding groove     34  ... driven projection     35  ... opening     40  ... operating member     41  ... drive groove     42  ... detect groove     45  ... guide functional unit     46  ... cam functional unit     47  ... holding portion     48  ... rotational force transmitter