Bolted type connector

Details Bolted type connector Bolted type connector

1999-08-11

2001-05-15

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

Retaining means

Reexamination Certificate

active

06231369

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a bolt-tightened connector used for connecting a wire harness etc. of a vehicle such as an automobile, more specifically relates to a bolt-tightened connector of a type connecting two half connector bodies into one using a nut and bolt.
BACKGROUND ART
A multi-way connector of the related art formed by fitting two half connector bodies requires a large force for connecting the two halves, so, as described in the Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 1-57471, one structured by connection by using the tightening force obtained by a nut and bolt has been proposed. Such a bolt-tightened connector is composed of a first half connector body and a second half connector body fitting into each other. A bolt having a screw portion at its front end is rotatably attached to the first half connector body, and a spring member, that is, a coil spring, is interposed between the head of the bolt and the outer wall surface of the first half connector body. On the other hand, a nut is secured to the second half connector body.
According to this configuration, both of the half connector bodies can be connected with a small force by screwing the screw portion of the bolt into the nut. When the two half connector bodies are sufficiently fit together, the screw portion of the bolt passes through the nut and the bolt can be turned freely. Accordingly, a worker can determine that the engagement is completed and thereby prevent damage to the connector due to excessive tightening.
Also, when the screw portion of the bolt passes through the nut, the spring member is compressed and the repulsion force thereof presses the base end of the screw portion of the bolt against the nut. When the bolt is rotated in reverse in this state, the screw portion of the bolt is reliably screwed into the nut, which is convenient at the time of detaching the two half connector bodies.
In the above bolt-tightened connector, however, since a coil spring is interposed as a spring member between the head of the bolt and the outer wall surface of the first half connector body, the length of the bolt projecting from the outer wall surface of the first half connector body becomes longer. Therefore, there is the disadvantage that the first half connector body becomes larger. It has been also proposed to use a spring washer instead of the above coil spring, however, a spring washer has a small contact area with the head of the bolt and the outer wall surface of the first half connector body, so the axis of the bolt easily becomes off-centered and screwing the screw portion of the bolt into the nut is difficult.
Also, in the above bolt-tightened connector, the second half connector body may be formed as a part of an electrical connection box and a wire harness connected to the first half connector body. In such a case, a harness cover is detachably attached to the first half connector body, and the wire harness is drawn out to the outside from a harness outlet formed at a predetermined position of the harness cover.
The wire harness connected to the first connector has a large number of wires due to being for multi-way use and the outer diameter of the plurality of wires bundled together becomes large as well. Therefore, it is difficult to keep the drawing direction of the wire harness from the first connector substantially constant. When forcibly bending the wire harness near the harness outlet to try to adjust the drawing direction of the wire harness, the terminals and wires in the first half connector body are subject to stress which is liable to cause inconvenience.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a bolt-tightened connector wherein a first half connector body to which the bolt is attached is made compact and the bolt is kept from becoming off-centered axially.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a bolt-tightened connector enabling the direction of drawing the wire harness from the first half connector body to be kept substantially constant and preventing stress from being applied to the terminals or wires in the first half connector body.
A bolt-tightened connector according to the first aspect of the present invention for achieving the first object comprises a first half connector body, a second half connector body to be fitted in the first half connector body, a bolt rotatably held by the first half connector body, a nut secured to the second half connector body, and an approximately V-shaped plate spring which is arranged at an intermediate region of the bolt positioned in the first half connector body, which is compressed when fitting the first half connector body in the second half connector body and a screw portion of the bolt passes through the nut and the bolt freely turns, and which pulls a base end of the screw portion of the bolt to the nut by the repulsion force due to the compression.
By doing this, the portion of the bolt projecting from the outer wall surface of the first half connector body becomes substantially only the head of the bolt, so the first half connector body can be made compact. Further, the approximately V-shaped plate spring gives a large contact area with the members compressing the same, so the possibility of the bolt becoming off-centered axially becomes low.
In the above configuration, the second half connector body may have a cylindrical nut holder for securing the nut, the bolt may have a stopper attached in the intermediate region toward the head and a step portion formed in the intermediate region toward the screw portion, and the plate spring may be attached between the stopper and the step portion and be compressed between the stopper and the front end of the nut holder when the screw portion of the bolt passes through the nut.
By doing this, the possibility of the bolt becoming off-centered axially becomes further smaller and it is possible to prevent the bolt from dropping out from the first half connector body before fitting together the first half connector body and the second half connector body or when separating the first half connector body and the second half connector body and therefore the work efficiency can be vastly improved.
Further, in the above configuration, the nut may be integrally secured to the second half connector body by insert molding or may be inserted into the cylindrical nut holder formed at the second half connector body and then be secured by inserting the cylindrical member to the nut holder to grip it.
By doing this, it is possible to prevent the bolt from dropping out from the second half connector body before fitting together the first half connector body and the second half connector body or when separating the first half connector body and the second half connector body and therefore the work efficiency can be vastly improved. Further, when holding the nut by using the cylindrical member, any bits of metal produced can be kept in the inside space of the cylindrical member and therefore prevented from dispersing elsewhere.
Further, in the above configuration, the plate spring may be held with respect to the first half connector body so as to restrict rotation thereof about the bolt.
By doing this, rattling of the plate spring can be prevented and the screw portion of the bolt can be more reliably guided to the nut when fitting the parts together.
A bolt-tightened connector according to a second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above second object comprises a first half connector body, a second half connector body to be fitted in the first half connector body, a bolt rotatably held by one of the first half connector body and second half connector body; a nut held by the other of the first half connector body and second half connector body, and a harness fixing piece provided at the first half connector body and restricting the drawing direction of the wire harness.
By doing this, the wire harness can be secured in the state drawn out along the harness fixing piece. Accordingly, it is easy to keep the drawing direc

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Bolted type connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Bolted type connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bolted type connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2571655