JP7077984B2 - Connector device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector device.

Generally, in an automobile, an electric motorcycle, or the like, the battery and the inverter are connected via two circuits, a circuit on the anode side and a circuit on the cathode side. Therefore, in the conventional connector device provided for electrically connecting the battery and the inverter, the connector on the battery side and the connector on the inverter side are configured to have an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, respectively. .. Then, in each connector, the two terminals, the anode terminal and the cathode terminal, are arranged side by side in a row, for example (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-128966

By the way, in recent years, some electric vehicles such as electric motorcycles and electric bicycles are equipped with a battery that can be attached to and detached from the vehicle body. The battery is electrically connected to the inverter by connecting the second connector provided on the battery to the first connector connected to the inverter provided on the vehicle side, for example. The battery is often attached to and detached from the vehicle body by the user for replacement, charging, or the like.

As a connector provided in a connector device for connecting a battery that can be attached to and detached from the vehicle body and an inverter on the vehicle side, two terminals, an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, are arranged side by side in a row as in the conventional case. It is conceivable to use the one that has been used. In this case, when the battery is mounted on the vehicle body, the anode terminal of one connector is connected to the anode terminal of the other connector, and the cathode terminal of one connector is the cathode terminal of the other connector. The battery is inserted into the battery accommodating portion provided in the vehicle body so as to be connected to. That is, there is only one relative rotation position between the connectors around the axis extending in the connection direction between the connectors, which enables the connection between the connectors. Therefore, when mounting the battery on the vehicle body, the relative rotation position between the battery and the housing unit around the axis extending in the direction of inserting the battery into the housing unit is always the same so that the connectors can be connected to each other. Will be done. However, considering the convenience of the user, it is preferable that there are a plurality of relative rotation positions between the battery and the accommodating portion. That is, in the connector device, it is desired that there are a plurality of relative rotation positions of the connectors around the axis extending in the connection direction of the connectors, which enable the connection between the connectors.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to increase the relative rotation positions of connectors around an axis extending in the connection direction between connectors so that the connectors can be connected to each other. The purpose is to provide a connector device that can be used.

The connector device for solving the above problems includes a first connector having a first reference terminal, a plurality of first terminals, and a first connector-side diversion member that short-circuits the plurality of the first terminals with each other, and the first reference. It has a second reference terminal that is electrically connected to the terminal and a number of second terminals that is equal to or less than the number of the first terminals that can be electrically connected to the first terminal, and is connected to the first connector. A second connector is provided, and a plurality of the first terminals are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the first reference terminal when viewed from the connection direction between the first connector and the second connector. The second terminal can face any one of the plurality of first terminals in the connection direction when the second reference terminal faces the first reference terminal in the connection direction.

According to the above aspect, in the first connector, the plurality of first terminals are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the first reference terminal when viewed from the connection direction between the first connector and the second connector. .. Therefore, with the first reference terminal and the second reference terminal facing each other in the connection direction between the first connector and the second connector, the first connector is centered on the second reference terminal around the axis extending in the same connection direction. On the other hand, when the second connector is rotated, the second terminal can be connected to the first terminal at a predetermined angle according to the positions of the plurality of first terminals. That is, in the same state, when the second connector is rotated with respect to the first connector around the second reference terminal around the axis extending in the same connection direction, the second connector is rotated at predetermined angles according to the positions of the plurality of first terminals. The second connector can be connected to the first connector. As a result, it is possible to increase the relative rotation position between the first connector and the second connector around the axis extending in the connection direction between the first connector and the second connector, which allows the connection between the first connector and the second connector. ..

Two of the first terminals out of the plurality of first terminals are arranged so as to sandwich the first reference terminal between the two first terminals, and the two terminals are viewed from the connection direction. It is preferable that the first terminal and the first reference terminal are aligned in a straight line.

According to the above aspect, with the first reference terminal and the second reference terminal facing each other in the connection direction between the first connector and the second connector, the second reference terminal is centered around the axis extending in the same connection direction. Every time the second connector is rotated 180 ° with respect to the first connector, the second terminal can be connected to the first terminal. That is, in the same state, the second connector can be connected to the first connector every time the second connector is rotated 180 ° with respect to the first connector around the second reference terminal around the axis extending in the same connection direction. be able to.

The second connector preferably has the same number of the second terminals as the first terminal and the second connector side diversion member that short-circuits the plurality of the second terminals with each other.
According to the above aspect, all the first terminals are energized in a state where the first connector and the second connector are connected. That is, in the same state, there is no first terminal that may not be energized. Therefore, the current supplied through the first connector side diversion member is always diverted to the plurality of first terminals connected to the first connector side diversion member, so that the current is always diverted to the first connector side diversion member. The maximum value of the current supplied to each of the plurality of connected first terminals can be suppressed to a small value. As a result, the first terminal connected to the first connector side diversion member can be miniaturized. Further, the maximum value of the current supplied to each second terminal can be reduced as compared with the case where the number of the second terminals is smaller than the number of the first terminals. As a result, each second terminal can be miniaturized. From these things, it becomes possible to miniaturize the first connector and the second connector.

It is preferable that the first connector-side diversion member has a connecting portion to which an electric wire is connected, and the lengths of current paths from the connecting portion to each of the first terminals are the same.
According to the above aspect, in the first connector side diversion member, the electrical resistance between the connection portion and each first terminal can be made equal to each other. As a result, the current flowing from the connection portion to the first connector side diversion member can be equally divided into each first terminal in the first connector side diversion member, so that the magnitude of the current flowing through each first terminal varies. It can be suppressed from coming out.

According to the connector device of the present invention, it is possible to increase the relative rotation position between the connectors around the axis extending in the connection direction between the connectors, which allows the connectors to be connected to each other.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the connector device according to the first embodiment. An exploded perspective view of the first connector in the first embodiment. An exploded perspective view of the second connector in the first embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement position of terminals in the first connector of the first embodiment, and (b) and (c) are schematic views showing the arrangement position of terminals in the second connector of the first embodiment. Sectional drawing of the connector apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement positions of terminals in the first connector of the second embodiment, and (b) and (c) are schematic views showing the arrangement positions of terminals in the second connector of the second embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement position of the terminal in the first connector of the modification example, and (b) to (d) are schematic views showing the arrangement position of the terminal in the second connector of the modification example. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement position of the terminal in the first connector of the modification example, and (b) to (d) are schematic views showing the arrangement position of the terminal in the second connector of the modification example.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the connector device will be described.
The connector device 20 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes an inverter (not shown) mounted on an electric vehicle such as an electric motorcycle or an electric bicycle, and a battery 11 detachably mounted on the vehicle. It is an electrical connection. The connector device 20 includes a first connector 21 fixed to the vehicle body 13, and a second connector 22 fixed to the case 12 of the battery 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first connector 21 includes a first housing 30, one first reference terminal 61, two first terminals 62a and 62b, and a first connector side diversion member 81. Have.

The first housing 30 has a housing body 31 and a back retainer 32 attached to the housing body 31. The housing body 31 and the back retainer 32 are made of an insulating resin material.

The housing body 31 has a bottomed tubular first fitting portion 41. The first fitting portion 41 has a flat plate-shaped support portion 42 and a tubular portion 43 erected on the outer peripheral edge portion of the support portion 42. The first connector 21 can be arranged in an arbitrary direction according to the shape of the place where the first connector 21 is fixed in the vehicle body 13, but in the present embodiment, the extending direction of the tubular portion 43 is set. Vertical direction. Then, in the following, the X direction will be described as the forward direction, the Y direction as the right direction, and the Z direction as the upward direction.

The support portion 42 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the vertical direction, and has a track (race track) shape in which the outer shape seen from above is long in the left-right direction. Further, the tubular portion 43 has a flat plate portion 44 extending upward from a linear portion at both ends of the support portion 42 in the front-rear direction on the outer peripheral edge of the support portion 42, and both ends in the left-right direction on the outer peripheral edge of the support portion 42. It has an arc portion 45 extending upward from the arc-shaped portion. The pair of flat plate portions 44 each form a quadrangular flat plate shape orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Further, the arc portion 45 is formed to have the same thickness as the flat plate portion 44. The tubular portion 43 has a long track (race track) shape in the left-right direction, similar to the support portion 42, when viewed from above.

Further, the housing main body 31 has a fixing portion 46 extending in a collar shape from the outer peripheral surface of the first fitting portion 41. The fixing portion 46 extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion (lower end portion) of the tubular portion 43 and forms an annular shape. Further, the fixing portion 46 has fixing holes 47 at a plurality of locations (six locations in the present embodiment) separated from each other. In the present embodiment, the fixing holes 47 are provided in the fixing portion 46, two on each side in the front-rear direction and one on each side in the left-right direction of the first fitting portion 41. Each fixing hole 47 penetrates the fixing portion 46 in the vertical direction, and a cylindrical metal collar 48 is mounted on the inner peripheral surface of each fixing hole 47.

The first connector 21 is fixed to the vehicle body 13 by fixing the housing body 31 to the vehicle body 13 at the fixing portion 46. Specifically, a mounting hole 13a is provided at a place where the first connector 21 of the vehicle body 13 is fixed. Then, the fixing portion 46 is overlapped with the outer peripheral portion of the mounting hole 13a in the vehicle body 13 from the outside of the vehicle body 13, and the mounting holes in the vehicle body 13 are formed by bolts and nuts (not shown) inserted into the fixing holes 47, that is, the collars 48. By fixing the outer peripheral portion of 13a and the fixing portion 46, the first connector 21 is fixed to the vehicle body 13.

Further, the housing main body 31 has two fixed convex portions 49 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the first fitting portion 41. Each fixed convex portion 49 is located below the fixed portion 46 in the first fitting portion 41. Each fixed convex portion 49 projects outward in the left-right direction from the outer peripheral surface at both ends of the support portion 42 in the left-right direction.

Further, the first fitting portion 41 has a plurality of insertion holes 51 in the support portion 42. In this embodiment, three insertion holes 51 are provided in the support portion 42. Each insertion hole 51 penetrates the support portion 42 in the vertical direction and has a circular shape when viewed from above. The inner diameters of the insertion holes 51 are equal to each other. Further, the three insertion holes 51 are aligned in a straight line on the center line (not shown) of the support portion 42 extending in the left-right direction through the center of the support portion 42 in the front-rear direction. Further, the radial center of the central insertion hole 51 is located on the center line L1 of the first fitting portion 41. The center line L1 of the first fitting portion 41 is a straight line extending in the vertical direction through the center of the first fitting portion 41 in the front-rear direction and the center of the first fitting portion 41 in the left-right direction. Further, the distance D1 between the central insertion hole 51 and the left insertion hole 51 is equal to the distance D2 between the central insertion hole 51 and the right insertion hole 51.

Further, the first fitting portion 41 has a cylindrical holding portion 52 extending from the peripheral edge portion of the opening opened inside the first fitting portion 41 in each insertion hole 51 in the support portion 42. The holding portion 52 is located coaxially with the insertion hole 51 located on the base end side of the holding portion 52, and has the same inner diameter as the insertion hole 51. Further, the vertical position of the tip (upper end) of each holding portion 52 is equal to the vertical position of the tip (upper end) of the tubular portion 43, and the tip surface of each holding portion 52 is the tip surface of the tubular portion 43. Located in the same plane as.

The tip of each holding portion 52 is provided with a protective portion 53 protruding inward in the radial direction of each holding portion 52 so as to reduce the inner diameter of the tip portion of each holding portion 52. The protective portion 53 forms an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the holding portion 52.

Further, on the outer surface (lower end surface) of the support portion 42, a positioning recess 54 recessed upward so as to expand the diameter of the opening opened to the outside of the first fitting portion 41 in each insertion hole 51 is provided. Has been done. The three positioning recesses 54 have a circular shape when viewed from below, which is larger than the insertion hole 51. Further, the positioning recess 54 is located coaxially with the insertion hole 51 located on the bottom surface side of the positioning recess 54. Further, the bottom surface of each positioning recess 54 has a planar shape orthogonal to the vertical direction.

Of the three insertion holes 51, the first reference terminal 61 is inserted into the central insertion hole 51. The first reference terminal 61 of the present embodiment is a female terminal of the anode. The first reference terminal 61 is made of a conductive metal material, and in this embodiment, is made of copper or a copper alloy. The first reference terminal 61 includes a cylindrical connecting portion 63, a plurality of extending portions 64 extending in the axial direction of the connecting portion 63 from the upper end of the connecting portion 63, and a positioning portion 65 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 63. And have.

The outer diameter of the connecting portion 63 is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 51. Further, the axial length of the connecting portion 63 is longer than the vertical thickness of the supporting portion 42. A female screw groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion 63.

In this embodiment, the first reference terminal 61 has eight extension portions 64. The positions of the tips of the eight extending portions 64 in the axial direction of the connecting portions 63 are the same. The extending portions 64 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are formed so as to form a gap in the circumferential direction of the connecting portion 63. A contact portion 66 is provided at the tip of each extension portion 64. In each extension portion 64, the contact portion 66 projects radially inward from the tip portion of the extension portion 64. Further, each contact portion 66 has a ridge along the circumferential direction of the connection portion 63. The positions of the plurality of contact portions 66 are the same in the axial direction of the connection portions 63.

The positioning portion 65 extends radially outward from a portion of the connecting portion 63 that is slightly closer to the extending portion 64 than the center in the axial direction, and has an annular flange shape. The outer diameter of the positioning portion 65 is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the positioning recess 54. Further, the axial width of the positioning portion 65 is equal to the depth of the positioning recess 54, that is, the vertical width of the positioning recess 54.

Such a first reference terminal 61 is inserted into the central insertion hole 51 from the lower end side of the first fitting portion 41. Further, the first reference terminal 61 is inserted into the central insertion hole 51 from the tip end side of the extension portion 64, and is inserted until the positioning portion 65 abuts on the bottom surface of the central positioning recess 54 from below. In the first reference terminal 61, the first fitting portion 41 has a plurality of extending portions 64 arranged inside the central holding portion 52 and the positioning portion 65 arranged in the positioning recess 54. It is held at. Further, the first reference terminal 61 is held by the first fitting portion 41 so that the central axis L2 of the first reference terminal 61 coincides with the center line L1 of the first fitting portion 41. The lower end side portion of the connection portion 63 of the first reference terminal 61 (that is, the portion below the positioning portion 65 in the connection portion 63) protrudes to the outside of the first fitting portion 41. Further, the tip surfaces of the plurality of extending portions 64 of the first reference terminal 61 held by the first fitting portion 41 face the protection portion 53 in the vertical direction.

Further, of the three insertion holes 51, the first terminal 62a is inserted into the insertion hole 51 located on the left side of the central insertion hole 51, and the insertion hole 51 located on the right side of the central insertion hole 51 is inserted. Is inserted through the first terminal 62b. The first terminals 62a and 62b are female terminals of the cathode. The first terminals 62a and 62b both have the same shape as the first reference terminal 61 and are made of the same material as the first reference terminal 61. That is, the first terminals 62a and 62b have a connecting portion 63, eight extending portions 64, and a positioning portion 65, respectively.

The first terminal 62a is inserted into the insertion hole 51 located on the left side of the central insertion hole 51 from the lower end side of the first fitting portion 41, so that the first terminal 62a is first fitted in the same manner as the first reference terminal 61. It is held by the unit 41. That is, the first terminal 62a is held by the first fitting portion 41 so that the central axis L3 of the first terminal 62a is parallel to the center line L1 of the first fitting portion 41. Therefore, the central axis L3 of the first terminal 62a is parallel to the central axis L2 of the first reference terminal 61.

Further, the first terminal 62b is inserted into the insertion hole 51 located on the right side of the central insertion hole 51 from the lower end side of the first fitting portion 41, so that the first terminal 62b is first fitted in the same manner as the first reference terminal 61. It is held by the unit 41. That is, the first terminal 62b is held by the first fitting portion 41 so that the central axis L4 of the first terminal 62b is parallel to the center line L1 of the first fitting portion 41. Therefore, the central axis L4 of the first terminal 62b is parallel to the central axis L2 of the first reference terminal 61.

The two first terminals 62a and 62b held by the first fitting portion 41 are arranged so as to sandwich the first reference terminal 61 from both sides in the left-right direction. Further, the first reference terminal 61 and the two first terminals 62a and 62b held by the first fitting portion 41 pass through the center of the support portion 42 in the front-rear direction and extend in the left-right direction when viewed from the vertical direction. They are aligned in a straight line on the center line (not shown) of the portion 42. Then, the distance D3 between the first reference terminal 61 and the left first terminal 62a (that is, the distance between the central axis L2 of the first reference terminal 61 and the central axis L3 of the first terminal 62a) and the first. 1 The distance D4 between the reference terminal 61 and the right first terminal 62b (that is, the distance between the center axis L2 of the first reference terminal 61 and the center axis L4 of the first terminal 62b) is equal to.

In the present embodiment, the first fitting portion 41, the first reference terminal 61, and the first terminals 62a and 62b have a shape that is rotationally symmetric twice with the center line L1 of the first fitting portion 41 as the axis of symmetry. ing. That is, the first fitting portion 41 holding the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b takes the same posture each time it is rotated by 180 ° around the center line L1.

The back retainer 32 is fixed to the lower end portion of the first fitting portion 41. The back retainer 32 has a dish shape including a flat plate-shaped covering portion 71 having an outer shape slightly larger than the outer shape of the support portion 42 and a side wall portion 72 erected on the outer peripheral edge portion of the covering portion 71. ..

The covering portion 71 has a track (race track) shape whose outer shape is long in the left-right direction when viewed from below. The covering portion 71 is provided with three through holes 73 having the same number as the insertion holes 51 provided in the first fitting portion 41. Each through hole 73 penetrates the covering portion 71 in the vertical direction, and has a circular shape when viewed from above. The inner diameter of each through hole 73 is smaller than the outer diameter of the positioning portion 65, and is equal to the inner diameter of the insertion hole 51 in the present embodiment. Further, the three through holes 73 are aligned in a straight line on the center line (not shown) of the covering portion 71 extending in the left-right direction through the center of the covering portion 71 in the front-rear direction. Further, the radial center of the central through hole 73 is located at the center in the front-rear direction of the covering portion 71 and in the center in the left-right direction of the covering portion 71. Further, the distance between the central through hole 73 and the left through hole 73 is equal to the distance D1 between the central insertion hole 51 and the left insertion hole 51 in the first fitting portion 41. Further, the distance between the central through hole 73 and the right through hole 73 is equal to the distance D2 between the central insertion hole 51 and the right insertion hole 51.

The inner peripheral surface of the side wall portion 72 has a substantially cylindrical shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the support portion 42. Fixing claws 74 are provided at both ends of the side wall portion 72 in the left-right direction. Each fixed claw 74 is a portion partially separated from the side wall portion 72 by providing a pair of grooves extending from the tip end of the side wall portion 72 to the base end and penetrating the side wall portion 72 in the left-right direction. Each fixing claw 74 has a locking hole 75 penetrating in the left-right direction. Each fixed claw 74 can be elastically deformed so that its tip is displaced in the left-right direction with respect to the base end.

In the back retainer 32, the lower end portion of the first fitting portion 41 (that is, the lower end portion of the support portion 42) is inserted inside the side wall portion 72, and the fixed convex portion 49 is inserted into the locking holes 75 of the two fixing claws 74. Is engaged (fitted) to be fixed to the lower end portion of the first fitting portion 41. The lower surface of the first fitting portion 41 (that is, the outer surface of the support portion 42) is in contact with the inner surface surface of the covering portion 71. Further, the three through holes 73 are arranged in the vertical direction with the three insertion holes 51, and the through holes 73 and the insertion holes 51 arranged in the vertical direction are located coaxially with each other.

The connection portion 63 of the first reference terminal 61 projects to the outside of the first housing 30 through the central through hole 73. Further, the positioning portion 65 of the first reference terminal 61 is positioned in the center line L1 direction of the first fitting portion 41 with respect to the first housing 30 by the bottom surface of the central positioning recess 54 and the inner side surface of the covering portion 71. It has been done. An electric wire (not shown) connected to the inverter is electrically connected to the connecting portion 63 protruding to the outside of the first housing 30.

Similarly, the connection portion 63 of the first terminal 62a projects to the outside of the first housing 30 through the through hole 73 located on the left side of the central through hole 73. Further, the positioning portion 65 of the first terminal 62a has a first fitting portion 41 with respect to the first housing 30 due to the bottom surface of the positioning recess 54 located on the left side of the central positioning recess 54 and the inner surface of the covering portion 71. Positioning is performed in the center line L1 direction. Further, the connection portion 63 of the first terminal 62b projects to the outside of the first housing 30 through the through hole 73 located on the right side of the central through hole 73. Further, the positioning portion 65 of the first terminal 62b has a first fitting portion 41 with respect to the first housing 30 due to the bottom surface of the positioning recess 54 located on the right side of the central positioning recess 54 and the inner surface of the covering portion 71. Positioning is performed in the center line L1 direction.

The first connector side diversion member 81 is electrically connected to the connection portion 63 of the first terminals 62a and 62b. The first connector side diversion member 81 is made of a conductive material. The first connector side diversion member 81 of the present embodiment is formed by pressing a plate material made of copper or a copper alloy by pressing. The first connector-side diversion member 81 has a diversion portion 82, two terminal connection portions 83 and 84 extending from the diversion portion 82, and an electric wire connecting portion 85 also extending from the diversion portion 82.

The flow dividing portion 82 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the vertical direction and a band shape extending in the left-right direction. The terminal connection portions 83 and 84 extend forward from both ends in the left-right direction of the diversion portion 82, and form a quadrangular flat plate shape orthogonal to the vertical direction. The terminal connection portion 83 and the terminal connection portion 84 have the same shape, and have the same length in the front-rear direction (that is, the length in the extending direction from the flow dividing portion 82). The terminal connection portions 83, 84 are formed with connection holes 86, 87 that penetrate the terminal connection portions 83, 84 in the vertical direction. Further, the electric wire connecting portion 85 extends downward from the center of the flow dividing portion 82 in the left-right direction and has a flat plate-like band shape orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

The first connector side diversion member 81 is electrically connected to the first terminal 62a at the terminal connection portion 83 by screwing a bolt 91 penetrating the connection hole 86 from below into the connection portion 63 of the first terminal 62a. Has been done. Further, in the first connector side diversion member 81, a bolt 92 penetrating the connection hole 87 from below is screwed into the connection portion 63 of the first terminal 62b, so that the terminal connection portion 84 is electrically connected to the first terminal 62b. It is connected to the. As a result, the first terminal 62a and the first terminal 62b are short-circuited by the first connector side diversion member 81. Further, an electric wire (not shown) connected to the inverter is electrically connected to the lower end of the electric wire connecting portion 85. In the electric wire connecting portion 85, the portion to which the electric wire is connected is referred to as the connecting portion 88. In the first connector side diversion member 81, the diversion portion 82 is located on the rear side (in the back side of the paper in FIG. 1) of the connection portion 63 of the first reference terminal 61. Therefore, the first connector side diversion member 81 does not interfere with the first reference terminal 61.

In the first connector side diversion member 81, the electric wire connecting portion 85 is integrally provided at the center of the diversion portion 82 in the left-right direction. Further, the terminal connection portion 83 and the terminal connection portion 84 have the same shape and have the same length in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the current path from the connection portion 88 to the connection hole 86 to which the first terminal 62a is connected through the terminal connection portion 83 after passing through the electric wire connection portion 85 and the left half of the flow dividing portion 82, and the connection portion 88. It has the same length as the current path from the wire connecting portion 85 to the connection hole 87 to which the first terminal 62b is connected through the terminal connecting portion 84 after passing through the right half of the flow dividing portion 82.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the second connector 22 includes a second housing 100, one second reference terminal 131, two second terminals 132a and 132b, and a second connector side diversion member 151. Have.

The second housing 100 has a housing body 101 and a back retainer 102 assembled to the housing body 101. The housing body 101 and the back retainer 102 are made of an insulating resin material. In explaining the second connector 22, the connection direction Z1 of the second connector 22 to the first connector 21 (when the second connector 22 is connected to the first connector 21, the second connector 21 is second to the first connector 21). The direction in which the connector 22 is moved) is downward. However, the connection direction Z1 changes according to the posture of the first connector 21. Then, as in the description of the first connector 21, the X direction will be described as the forward direction, the Y direction as the left direction, and the Z direction as the downward direction.

The housing body 101 has a bottomed tubular second fitting portion 111. The second fitting portion 111 has a flat plate-shaped support portion 112 and a tubular portion 113 erected on the outer peripheral edge portion of the support portion 112.

The support portion 112 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the vertical direction, and has a track (race track) shape in which the outer shape seen from above is long in the left-right direction.
The tubular portion 113 extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the support portion 112. The tubular portion 113 has a flat plate portion 114 extending downward from a linear portion at both ends of the support portion 112 in the front-rear direction on the outer peripheral edge of the support portion 112, and an arc shape at both ends in the left-right direction on the outer peripheral edge of the support portion 112. It has an arc portion 115 extending downward from the portion forming the eggplant. The pair of flat plate portions 114 each have a rectangular flat plate shape orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Further, the arc portion 115 is formed to have the same thickness as the flat plate portion 114. The tubular portion 113 has a long track (race track) shape in the left-right direction, similar to the support portion 112, when viewed from above. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 113 has a shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 43 of the first housing 30. Further, the vertical length of the tubular portion 113 is longer than the vertical length of the portion above the fixed portion 46 in the tubular portion 43 of the first housing 30.

Further, the housing main body 101 has a fixing portion 116 extending in a collar shape from the outer peripheral surface of the second fitting portion 111. The fixed portion 116 extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the substantially central portion of the tubular portion 113 in the vertical direction and forms an annular shape. Further, the fixing portion 116 has fixing holes 117 at a plurality of locations (six locations in the present embodiment) separated from each other. In the present embodiment, the fixing holes 117 are provided in the fixing portion 116, two on each side in the front-rear direction and one on each side in the left-right direction of the second fitting portion 111. Each fixing hole 117 penetrates the fixing portion 116 in the vertical direction, and a cylindrical metal collar 118 is mounted on the inner peripheral surface of each fixing hole 117.

The second connector 22 is fixed to the battery 11 by fixing the housing body 101 to the case 12 of the battery 11 at the fixing portion 116. Specifically, a mounting hole 12a is provided at a place (for example, the bottom of the case 12) where the second connector 22 is fixed in the case 12. Then, the fixing portion 116 is overlapped with the outer peripheral portion of the mounting hole 12a in the case 12 from the inside of the case 12, and the mounting hole 12a in the case 12 is formed by bolts and nuts (not shown) inserted into the fixing holes 117, that is, the collar 118. The second connector 22 is fixed to the case 12 by fixing the outer peripheral portion and the fixing portion 116.

Further, the housing main body 101 has two fixed convex portions 119 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the second fitting portion 111. Each fixed convex portion 119 is located above the fixed portion 116 in the second fitting portion 111. Each fixed convex portion 119 projects outward in the left-right direction from the outer peripheral surface at both ends of the support portion 112 in the left-right direction.

Further, the second fitting portion 111 has a plurality of insertion holes 121 in the support portion 112. In this embodiment, three insertion holes 121 are provided in the support portion 112. Each insertion hole 121 penetrates the support portion 112 in the vertical direction and has a circular shape when viewed from above. The inner diameters of the insertion holes 121 are equal to each other. Further, the three insertion holes 121 are aligned in a straight line on the center line (not shown) of the support portion 112 extending in the left-right direction through the center of the support portion 112 in the front-rear direction. Further, the radial center of the central insertion hole 121 is located on the center line L11 of the second fitting portion 111. The center line L11 of the second fitting portion 111 is a straight line extending in the vertical direction through the center of the second fitting portion 111 in the front-rear direction and the center of the second fitting portion 111 in the left-right direction. Further, the distance D11 between the central insertion hole 121 and the left insertion hole 121 is equal to the distance D12 between the central insertion hole 121 and the right insertion hole 121. Further, the spacing D11 is equal to the spacing D1 between the central insertion hole 51 and the left insertion hole 51 in the first fitting portion 41, and the spacing D12 is equal to the central insertion hole 51 in the first fitting portion 41. Equal to the distance D2 between the right insertion hole 51.

Further, on the outer surface (upper end surface) of the support portion 42, a positioning recess 122 recessed downward so as to expand the diameter of the opening opened to the outside of the second fitting portion 111 in each insertion hole 121 is provided. Has been done. The three positioning recesses 122 have a circular shape when viewed from above, which is larger than the insertion hole 121. Further, the positioning recess 122 is located coaxially with the insertion hole 121 located on the bottom surface side of the positioning recess 122. Further, the bottom surface of each positioning recess 122 has a planar shape orthogonal to the vertical direction.

Of the three insertion holes 121, the second reference terminal 131 is inserted through the central insertion hole 121. The second reference terminal 131 of the present embodiment is a male terminal of the anode. The second reference terminal 131 is made of a conductive metal material, and in this embodiment, is made of copper or a copper alloy. The second reference terminal 131 has a cylindrical terminal body 133, a disk-shaped positioning portion 134 integrally provided at the upper end of the terminal body 133, and an upward direction from the positioning portion 134 along the axial direction of the terminal body 133. It has an extending cylindrical connection portion 135.

The axial length of the terminal body 133 is shorter than the vertical length of the second fitting portion 111. Further, the outer diameter of the terminal body 133 is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 121. Further, the outer diameter of the terminal body 133 is a size that can be fitted into the first reference terminal 61, and is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the protection portion 53 at the tip portion of the holding portion 52. A screw 136 is screwed into the tip end portion (lower end portion) of the terminal body 133 from the axial direction.

The positioning unit 134 is located coaxially with the terminal body 133. The outer diameter of the positioning portion 134 is larger than the outer diameter of the terminal body 133 and equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the positioning recess 122. Therefore, the positioning portion 134 projects radially outward with respect to the terminal body 133 in a brim shape. Further, the axial width of the positioning portion 134 is equal to the depth of the positioning recess 122, that is, the vertical width of the positioning recess 122.

The connection portion 135 is located coaxially with the terminal body 133 and the positioning portion 134. The outer diameter of the connecting portion 135 is larger than the outer diameter of the terminal body 133 and smaller than the outer diameter of the positioning portion 134. A female screw groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion 135.

Such a second reference terminal 131 is inserted into the central insertion hole 121 from the upper end side of the second fitting portion 111. Further, the second reference terminal 131 is inserted into the central insertion hole 121 from the tip end side of the terminal body 133, and is inserted until the positioning portion 134 abuts on the bottom surface of the central positioning recess 122 from above. The second reference terminal 131 is held by the second fitting portion 111 in a state where the terminal body 133 is arranged inside the cylindrical portion 113 and the positioning portion 134 is arranged in the positioning recess 122. ing. Further, the second reference terminal 131 is held by the second fitting portion 111 so that the central axis L12 of the second reference terminal 131 coincides with the center line L11 of the second fitting portion 111. The connection portion 135 of the second reference terminal 131 projects to the outside of the second fitting portion 111.

Further, of the three insertion holes 121, the second terminal 132a is inserted into the insertion hole 121 located on the left side of the central insertion hole 121, and the insertion hole 121 located on the right side of the central insertion hole 121 is inserted. The second terminal 132b is inserted. The second terminals 132a and 132b are male terminals of the cathode. The second terminals 132a and 132b both have the same shape as the second reference terminal 131 and are made of the same material as the second reference terminal 131. That is, the second terminals 132a and 132b each have a terminal main body 133, a positioning portion 134, and a connection portion 135, and a screw 136 is screwed into the tip end portion of the terminal main body 133.

Then, the second terminal 132a is inserted into the insertion hole 121 located on the left side of the central insertion hole 121 from the upper end side of the second fitting portion 111, so that the second terminal 132a is second-fitted in the same manner as the second reference terminal 131. It is held by the unit 111. That is, the second terminal 132a is held by the second fitting portion 111 so that the central axis L13 of the second terminal 132a is parallel to the center line L11 of the second fitting portion 111. Therefore, the central axis L13 of the second terminal 132a is parallel to the central axis L12 of the second reference terminal 131.

Further, the second terminal 132b is inserted into the insertion hole 121 located on the right side of the central insertion hole 121 from the upper end side of the second fitting portion 111, so that the second terminal 132b is second-fitted in the same manner as the second reference terminal 131. It is held by the unit 111. That is, the second terminal 132b is held by the second fitting portion 111 so that the central axis L14 of the second terminal 132b is parallel to the center line L11 of the second fitting portion 111. Therefore, the central axis L14 of the second terminal 132b is parallel to the central axis L12 of the second reference terminal 131.

The two second terminals 132a and 132b held by the second fitting portion 111 are arranged so as to sandwich the second reference terminal 131 from both sides in the left-right direction. Further, the second reference terminal 131 held by the second fitting portion 111 and the two second terminals 132a and 132b are supported extending in the left-right direction through the center of the support portion 112 in the front-rear direction when viewed from the vertical direction. They are aligned in a straight line on the center line (not shown) of the portion 112. Then, the distance D13 between the second reference terminal 131 and the left second terminal 132a (that is, the distance between the central axis L12 of the second reference terminal 131 and the central axis L13 of the second terminal 132a) and the second. 2 The distance D14 between the reference terminal 131 and the right second terminal 132b (that is, the distance between the center axis L12 of the second reference terminal 131 and the center axis L14 of the second terminal 132b) is equal to. Further, the spacing D13 is equal to the spacing D3 between the first reference terminal 61 and the left first terminal 62a and the spacing D4 between the first reference terminal 61 and the right first terminal 62b. Further, the interval D14 is equal to the interval D3 between the first reference terminal 61 and the left first terminal 62a and the interval D4 between the first reference terminal 61 and the right first terminal 62b.

Further, the tips of the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b held by the second fitting portion 111 are located above the tip (lower end) of the tubular portion 113. Further, the lower end surface of the screw 136 screwed to the tip portions of the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b (the end surface of the head of the screw 136 opposite to the screw tip) is the tubular portion 113. It is located in the same plane as the tip surface.

In the present embodiment, the second fitting portion 111, the second reference terminal 131, and the second terminals 132a and 132b have a shape that is rotationally symmetric twice with the center line L11 of the second fitting portion 111 as the axis of symmetry. ing. That is, the second fitting portion 111 holding the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b takes the same posture each time it is rotated by 180 ° around the center line L11.

The back retainer 102 is fixed to the upper end portion of the second fitting portion 111. The back retainer 102 has a dish shape including a flat plate-shaped covering portion 141 having an outer shape slightly larger than the outer shape of the support portion 112 and a side wall portion 142 erected on the outer peripheral edge portion of the covering portion 141. ..

The covering portion 141 has a track (race track) shape whose outer shape is long in the left-right direction when viewed from below. The covering portion 141 is provided with three through holes 143 in the same number as the insertion holes 121 provided in the second fitting portion 111. Each through hole 143 penetrates the covering portion 141 in the vertical direction, and has a circular shape when viewed from above. The inner diameter of each through hole 143 is smaller than the outer diameter of the positioning portion 134, and in the present embodiment, is equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the connecting portion 135. Further, the three through holes 143 are aligned in a straight line on the center line (not shown) of the covering portion 141 extending in the left-right direction through the center of the covering portion 141 in the front-rear direction. Further, the radial center of the central through hole 143 is located at the center in the front-rear direction of the covering portion 141 and in the center in the left-right direction of the covering portion 141. Further, the distance between the central through hole 143 and the left through hole 143 is equal to the distance D11 between the central insertion hole 121 and the left insertion hole 121 in the second fitting portion 111. Further, the distance between the central through hole 143 and the right through hole 143 is equal to the distance D12 between the central insertion hole 121 and the right insertion hole 121.

The inner peripheral surface of the side wall portion 142 has a substantially cylindrical shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the support portion 112. Fixed claws 144 are provided at both ends of the side wall portion 142 in the left-right direction. Each fixed claw 144 is a portion partially separated from the side wall portion 142 by providing a pair of grooves extending from the tip end of the side wall portion 142 to the base end and penetrating the side wall portion 142 in the left-right direction. Each fixing claw 144 has a locking hole 145 penetrating in the left-right direction. Each fixed claw 144 is elastically deformable so that its tip is displaced in the left-right direction with respect to the base end.

In the back retainer 102, the upper end portion of the second fitting portion 111 (that is, the upper end portion of the support portion 112) is inserted inside the side wall portion 142, and the fixed convex portion 119 is inserted into the locking holes 145 of the two fixing claws 144. Is engaged (fitted) to be fixed to the upper end portion of the second fitting portion 111. The upper surface of the second fitting portion 111 (that is, the outer surface of the support portion 112) is in contact with the inner side surface of the covering portion 141. Further, the three through holes 143 are arranged in the vertical direction with the three insertion holes 121, and the through holes 143 and the insertion holes 121 arranged in the vertical direction are located coaxially with each other.

The connection portion 135 of the second reference terminal 131 projects to the outside of the second housing 100 through the central through hole 143. Further, the positioning portion 134 of the second reference terminal 131 is positioned in the center line L11 direction of the second fitting portion 111 with respect to the second housing 100 by the bottom surface of the central positioning recess 122 and the inner side surface of the covering portion 141. It has been done. An electric wire (not shown) connected to the battery 11 is electrically connected to the connecting portion 135 protruding to the outside of the second housing 100.

Similarly, the connection portion 135 of the second terminal 132a projects to the outside of the second housing 100 through the through hole 143 located on the left side of the central through hole 143. Further, the positioning portion 134 of the second terminal 132a has a second fitting portion 111 with respect to the second housing 100 due to the bottom surface of the positioning recess 122 located on the left side of the central positioning recess 122 and the inner surface of the covering portion 141. Positioning is performed in the direction of the center line L11. Further, the connection portion 135 of the second terminal 132b projects to the outside of the second housing 100 through the through hole 143 located on the right side of the central through hole 143. Further, the positioning portion 134 of the second terminal 132b has a second fitting portion 111 with respect to the second housing 100 due to the bottom surface of the positioning recess 122 located on the right side of the central positioning recess 122 and the inner surface of the covering portion 141. Positioning is performed in the direction of the center line L11.

A second connector-side diversion member 151 is electrically connected to the connection portion 135 of the second terminals 132a and 132b. The second connector side diversion member 151 is made of a conductive material. The first connector side diversion member 81 of the present embodiment is formed by pressing a plate material made of copper or a copper alloy by pressing. The second connector-side diversion member 151 has a diversion portion 152, two terminal connection portions 153 and 154 extending from the diversion portion 152, and an electric wire connecting portion 155 also extending from the diversion portion 152.

The flow dividing portion 152 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the vertical direction and a band shape extending in the left-right direction. The terminal connection portions 153 and 154 extend forward from both ends in the left-right direction of the diversion portion 152 and form a quadrangular flat plate shape orthogonal to the vertical direction. The terminal connection portion 153 and the terminal connection portion 154 have the same shape, and have the same length in the front-rear direction (that is, the length in the extending direction from the flow dividing portion 152). The terminal connection portions 153 and 154 are formed with connection holes 156 and 157 that penetrate the terminal connection portions 153 and 154 in the vertical direction. Further, the electric wire connecting portion 155 extends upward from the center of the flow dividing portion 152 in the left-right direction and has a flat plate-like band shape orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

The second connector side diversion member 151 is electrically connected to the second terminal 132a at the terminal connection portion 153 by screwing a bolt 161 penetrating the connection hole 156 from above into the connection portion 135 of the second terminal 132a. Has been done. Further, the second connector side diversion member 151 is electrically connected to the second terminal 132b at the terminal connection portion 154 by screwing a bolt 162 that penetrates the connection hole 157 from above into the connection portion 135 of the second terminal 132b. It is connected to the. As a result, the second terminal 132a and the second terminal 132b are short-circuited by the second connector side diversion member 151. Further, an electric wire (not shown) connected to the battery 11 is electrically connected to the lower end of the electric wire connecting portion 155. In the electric wire connecting portion 155, the portion to which the electric wire is connected is referred to as a connecting portion 158. In the second connector side diversion member 151, the diversion portion 152 is located on the rear side (in the back side of the paper in FIG. 1) of the connection portion 135 of the second reference terminal 131. Therefore, the second connector side diversion member 151 does not interfere with the second reference terminal 131.

In the second connector side current diversion member 151, the electric wire connection portion 155 is integrally provided at the center of the diversion portion 152 in the left-right direction. Further, the terminal connection portion 153 and the terminal connection portion 154 have the same shape and have the same length in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the current path from the connection portion 158 to the connection hole 156 to which the second terminal 132a is connected through the terminal connection portion 153 after passing through the electric wire connection portion 155 and the left half of the diversion portion 152, and the connection portion 158. The length is the same as the current path from the wire connection portion 155 to the right half of the flow diversion portion 152 and then through the terminal connection portion 154 to the connection hole 157 to which the second terminal 132b is connected.

As shown in FIG. 4A, in the connector device 20 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the first connector 21 is viewed from the connection direction Z1 (in the present embodiment, the top is viewed from the bottom). The distances D3 and D4 between the first terminals 62a and 62b are the same as those of the first reference terminal 61. Further, in the first connector 21, the first terminals 62a and 62b are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric twice with respect to the first reference terminal 61 when viewed from the connection direction Z1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the second connector 22, the distances D13 and D14 between the second terminals 132a and 132b and the second reference terminal 131 are the respective distances D13 and D14 when viewed from the connection direction Z1. It is equal to the distances D3 and D4 between the first terminals 62a and 62b and the first reference terminal 61. Further, in the second connector 22, the second terminals 132a and 132b are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric twice with the second reference terminal 131 as the center when viewed from the connection direction Z1.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 are opposed to each other so that the second reference terminal 131 faces the first reference terminal 61 and the connection direction Z1. In the state, the second terminal 132a can face the first terminal 62a in the connection direction Z1, and the second terminal 132b can face the first terminal 62b in the connection direction Z1. In this state, when the second connector 22 is moved in the connection direction Z1 and connected to the first connector 21, the second reference terminal 131 is inserted into the first reference terminal 61 and is electrically connected, and at the same time, the second is connected. The terminal 132a is inserted into the first terminal 62a and electrically connected, and the second terminal 132b is further inserted into the first terminal 62b and electrically connected.

The second connector 22 shown in FIG. 4 (c) has the second connector 22 in the state shown in FIG. 4 (b) around the axis extending in the connection direction Z1 about the second reference terminal 131 (that is, the center line L11). It is rotated 180 ° around (or around the central axis L12). As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, the second connector 22 and the first connector 21 are opposed to each other so that the second reference terminal 131 faces the first reference terminal 61 in the connection direction Z1. In this case, the second terminal 132a can face the first terminal 62b in the connection direction Z1, and the second terminal 132b can face the first terminal 62a in the connection direction Z1. In this state, when the second connector 22 is moved in the connection direction Z1 and connected to the first connector 21, the second reference terminal 131 is inserted into the first reference terminal 61 and is electrically connected, and at the same time, the second is connected. The terminal 132a is inserted into the first terminal 62b and electrically connected, and the second terminal 132b is further inserted into the first terminal 62a and electrically connected.

For example, when the shape of the case 12 of the battery 11 is rectangular when viewed from the connection direction Z1, the battery accommodating portion (not shown) provided on the vehicle body 13 is a concave portion having a rectangular cross section according to the outer shape of the case 12. Rectangle. In this case, the battery 11 can be inserted into the battery housing even in a posture rotated by 180 ° around an axis extending in the concave direction of the battery housing from the posture in which the battery 11 can be inserted into the battery housing. When the connector device 20 of the present embodiment is used to electrically connect such a battery 11 to the vehicle body 13 side, the battery 11 can be inserted into the battery accommodating portion in any posture in which the battery 11 can be inserted into the battery accommodating portion. Even if it is inserted, the battery 11 can be electrically connected to the vehicle body 13 side via the connector device 20.

The effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1-1) The two first terminals 62a and 62b are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the first reference terminal 61 when viewed from the connection direction Z1 between the first connector 21 and the second connector 22. There is. Further, each of the second terminals 132a and 132b faces one of the two first terminals 62a and 62b in the connection direction Z1 when the second reference terminal 131 faces the first reference terminal 61 in the connection direction Z1. It is possible.

Therefore, with the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 facing each other in the connection direction Z1, the second connector 21 is centered on the second reference terminal 131 around the axis extending in the connection direction Z1. When the connector 22 is rotated, the second terminals 132a and 132b can be connected to the first terminals 62a and 62b at predetermined angles (every 180 ° in this embodiment) according to the positions of the two first terminals 62a and 62b. It becomes. That is, in the same state, when the second connector 22 is rotated with respect to the first connector 21 around the second reference terminal 131 around the axis extending in the connection direction Z1, it corresponds to the positions of the two first terminals 62a and 62b. The second connector 22 can be connected to the first connector 21 at predetermined angles (every 180 ° in this embodiment). As a result, the relative between the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 around the axis extending in the connection direction Z1 between the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 so that the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 can be connected. The rotation position can be increased.

(1-2) The two first terminals 62a and 62b are arranged so as to sandwich the first reference terminal 61 between the two first terminals 62a and 62b, and the two first terminals 62a and 62b are viewed from the connection direction Z1. The first terminals 62a and 62b and the first reference terminal 61 are arranged in a straight line. Therefore, with the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 facing each other in the connection direction Z1, the second connector 21 is centered on the second reference terminal 131 around the axis extending in the connection direction Z1. Every time the connector 22 is rotated by 180 °, the second terminals 132a and 132b can be connected to the first terminals 62a and 62b. That is, in the same state, every time the second connector 22 is rotated 180 ° with respect to the first connector 21 around the second reference terminal 131 around the axis extending in the connection direction Z1, the second connector 22 is changed to the first connector 21. Can be connected to.

(1-3) The second connector 22 has the same number of second terminals 132a and 132b as the first terminals 62a and 62b, and the second connector side diversion member 151 that short-circuits the plurality of second terminals 132a and 132b to each other. .. Therefore, in a state where the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 are connected, all the first terminals 62a and 62b are energized. That is, in the same state, there is no first terminal that may not be energized. Therefore, the current supplied through the first connector-side diversion member 81 is always diverted to the two first terminals 62a and 62b connected to the first connector-side diversion member 81. The maximum value of the current supplied to each of the two first terminals 62a and 62b connected to the connector-side diversion member 81 can be suppressed to a small value. As a result, each of the first terminals 62a and 62b connected to the first connector side diversion member 81 can be miniaturized. Further, the maximum value of the current supplied to the second terminals 132a and 132b can be reduced as compared with the case where the number of the second terminals is smaller than the number of the first terminals 62a and 62b. As a result, the second terminals 132a and 132b can be miniaturized. From these things, it becomes possible to miniaturize the first connector 21 and the second connector 22.

(1-4) The first connector side current diversion member 81 has a connecting portion 88 to which an electric wire is connected, and the lengths of current paths from the connecting portion 88 to the first terminals 62a and 62b are equal. Therefore, in the first connector side diversion member 81, the electrical resistance between the connection portion 88 and the first terminals 62a and 62b can be made equal to each other. As a result, the current flowing from the connection portion 88 to the first connector side diversion member 81 can be equally divided into the first terminals 62a and 62b in the first connector side diversion member 81, so that the first terminals 62a and 62b can be equally divided. It is possible to suppress the variation in the magnitude of the current flowing through the connector.

<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the connector device including the connector will be described. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the above embodiment or the components corresponding to the above embodiment may be designated by the same reference numerals and a part or all of the description thereof may be omitted.

The connector device 20A of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 5 includes a first connector 21 of the first embodiment fixed to the vehicle body 13, and a second connector 22A fixed to the case 12 of the battery 11. Compared with the second connector 22 of the first embodiment, the second connector 22A does not include the second connector side diversion member 151, the bolts 161, 162, and the second terminal 132b. Further, since the second connector 22A does not include the second terminal 132b, the second housing 100 does not include the insertion hole 121, the positioning recess 122, and the through hole 143 provided for the second terminal 132b. An electric wire (not shown) connected to the battery 11 is electrically connected to the connection portion 135 of the second terminal 132a.

Further, in the second connector 22A, the distance D13 between the second terminal 132a and the second reference terminal 131 is between the first terminals 62a and 62b and the first reference terminal 61 when viewed from the connection direction Z1. Is equal to the intervals D3 and D4.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first connector 21 and the second connector 22A are opposed to each other so that the second reference terminal 131 faces the first reference terminal 61 and the connection direction Z1. In the state, the second terminal 132a can face the first terminal 62a in the connection direction Z1. In this state, when the second connector 22A is moved in the connection direction Z1 and connected to the first connector 21, the second reference terminal 131 is inserted into the first reference terminal 61 and electrically connected, and at the same time, the second is connected. The terminal 132a is inserted into the first terminal 62a and electrically connected.

The second connector 22A shown in FIG. 6 (c) has the second connector 22A in the state shown in FIG. 6 (b) around the axis extending in the connection direction Z1 about the second reference terminal 131 (that is, the center line L11). It is rotated 180 ° around (or around the central axis L12). As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the second connector 22A and the first connector 21 are opposed to each other so that the second reference terminal 131 faces the first reference terminal 61 in the connection direction Z1. If so, the second terminal 132a can face the first terminal 62b in the connection direction Z1. In this state, when the second connector 22A is moved in the connection direction Z1 and connected to the first connector 21, the second reference terminal 131 is inserted into the first reference terminal 61 and electrically connected, and at the same time, the second is connected. The terminal 132a is inserted into the first terminal 62b and electrically connected.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as (1-1), (1-2), and (1-4) of the first embodiment can be obtained.
The above embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The above embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.

The shape of the first connector side diversion member 81 is not limited to the shape of each of the above embodiments. When changing the shape of the first connector-side diversion member 81, in the first connector-side diversion member 81, the current path from the connection portion 88 to the connection hole 86 to which the first terminal 62a is connected and the connection portion 88 to the first When the current path leading to the connection hole 87 to which the terminal 62b is connected has the same length, the same effect as (1-4) of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the first connector side current diversion member 81, the current path from the connection portion 88 to which the electric wire is connected to the connection hole 86 to which the first terminal 62a is connected and the connection from the connection portion 88 to the first terminal 62b are connected. The current paths leading to the holes 87 do not necessarily have to be of equal length. The second connector side diversion member 151 is not limited to the shape of the first embodiment, and may be changed in the same manner.

In each of the above embodiments, the first connector side diversion member 81 and the second connector side diversion member 151 are both formed of a plate material made of copper or a copper alloy. However, the first connector side diversion member 81 and the second connector side diversion member 151 may be made of a conductive metal material other than copper and a copper alloy. For example, the first connector side diversion member 81 and the second connector side diversion member 151 may be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the first connector side diversion member 81 and the second connector side diversion member 151 are both formed by pressing a metal plate material, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be formed by a method other than press working such as casting or casting. Further, the first connector side diversion member 81 and the second connector side diversion member 151 are not limited to those made of a metal plate material, but may be made of an electric wire.

-In each of the above embodiments, the arrangement positions of the first terminals 62a and 62b with respect to the first reference terminal 61 may be changed. Further, the number of the first terminals 62a and 62b may be changed. In this case, depending on the arrangement position of the first terminals 62a and 62b with respect to the first reference terminal 61 and the number of the first terminals 62a and 62b, the arrangement position of the second terminals 132a and 132b with respect to the second reference terminal 131 and the second The number of terminals 132a and 132b is changed.

Seen from the connection direction Z1, the plurality of first terminals may be arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the first reference terminal 61. The number of the second terminals is equal to or less than the number of the first terminals, and when the second reference terminal 131 is opposed to the first reference terminal 61 in the connection direction Z1, the number of the second terminals is one of the plurality of first terminals. It suffices if it can face the connection direction Z1.

For example, the first connector 21A shown in FIG. 7A has four first terminals 62a to 62d around the first reference terminal 61. The four first terminals 62a to 62d are arranged at intervals of 90 ° in the circumferential direction when viewed from the connection direction Z1 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 7A), and the first terminals 62a to 62d and the first reference terminal are arranged. The spacing between 61 and 61 is equal to each other. Further, the two first terminals 62a and 62c are arranged so as to sandwich the first reference terminal 61 between the two first terminals 62a and 62c, and the two first terminals 62a and 62c are viewed from the connection direction Z1. The terminals 62a and 62c and the first reference terminal 61 are aligned. Further, the two first terminals 62b and 62d are arranged so as to sandwich the first reference terminal 61 between the two first terminals 62b and 62d, and the two first terminals 62b and 62d are viewed from the connection direction Z1. The terminals 62b and 62d and the first reference terminal 61 are arranged in a straight line. That is, the first terminals 62a to 62d are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric four times with respect to the first reference terminal 61 when viewed from the connection direction Z1. Further, the first terminals 62a to 62d are short-circuited by the first connector side diversion member 81A. An electric wire connected to an inverter (not shown) is electrically connected to the first connector side diversion member 81A.

For example, the second connector 22B shown in FIG. 7B can be connected to such a first connector 21A. The second connector 22B has four second terminals 132a to 132d around the second reference terminal 131. The four second terminals 132a to 132d are arranged at intervals of 90 ° in the circumferential direction when viewed from the connection direction Z1 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 7B), and the second terminals 132a to 132d and the second reference terminal are arranged. The distance between the first terminals 62a to 62d and the first reference terminal 61 is equal to the distance between the first terminals 62a and 62d. Further, the two second terminals 132a and 132c are arranged so as to sandwich the second reference terminal 131 between the two second terminals 132a and 132c, and the two second terminals 132a and 132c are viewed from the connection direction Z1. The terminals 132a and 132c and the second reference terminal 131 are aligned. Further, the two second terminals 132b and 132d are arranged so as to sandwich the second reference terminal 131 between the two second terminals 132b and 132d, and the two second terminals 132b and 132d are viewed from the connection direction Z1. The terminals 132b and 132d and the second reference terminal 131 are aligned. That is, the second terminals 132a to 132d are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric four times with the second reference terminal 131 as the center when viewed from the connection direction Z1. Further, the second terminals 132a to 132d are short-circuited by the second connector side diversion member 151A. An electric wire connected to the battery 11 is electrically connected to the second connector side diversion member 151A.

As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), with the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 facing each other in the connection direction Z1, the second reference is around the axis extending in the connection direction Z1. Every time the second connector 22B is rotated by 90 ° with respect to the first connector 21A about the terminal 131, the second connector 22B and the first connector 21A can be connected.

Further, for example, the second connector 22C shown in FIG. 7C can be connected to the first connector 21A shown in FIG. 7A. The second connector 22C has two second terminals 132a and 132b around the second reference terminal 131. The two second terminals 132a and 132b are arranged at intervals of 180 ° in the circumferential direction, and the second reference terminal 131 is sandwiched between the two second terminals 132a and 132b. Further, when viewed from the connection direction Z1 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 7C), the two second terminals 132a and 132b and the second reference terminal 131 are aligned in a straight line. Further, the distance between the second terminals 132a and 132b and the second reference terminal 131 is equal to the distance between the first terminals 62a to 62d and the first reference terminal 61. As described above, the second terminals 132a and 132b are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric twice with the second reference terminal 131 as the center when viewed from the connection direction Z1. Further, the second terminals 132a and 132b are short-circuited by the second connector side diversion member 151B. An electric wire connected to the battery 11 is electrically connected to the second connector side diversion member 151B.

As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (c), with the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 facing each other in the connection direction Z1, the second reference is about the axis extending in the connection direction Z1. Every time the second connector 22C is rotated by 90 ° with respect to the first connector 21A about the terminal 131, the second connector 22C and the first connector 21A can be connected. In the second connector 22C shown in FIG. 7C, when the second terminal 132b is arranged 90 ° away from the second terminal 132a (that is, directly above or below the second reference terminal 131 in FIG. 7C). The second connector 22C can be connected to the first connector 21A in the same manner (when the second terminal 132b is arranged).

Further, for example, the second connector 22D shown in FIG. 7D can be connected to the first connector 21A shown in FIG. 7A. The second connector 22D has one second terminal 132a around the second reference terminal 131. The distance between the second terminal 132a and the second reference terminal 131 is equal to the distance between each of the first terminals 62a to 62d and the first reference terminal 61. Further, an electric wire connected to the battery 11 is electrically connected to the second terminal 132a.

As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (d), with the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 facing each other in the connection direction Z1, the second reference is about the axis extending in the connection direction Z1. Every time the second connector 22D is rotated by 90 ° with respect to the first connector 21A about the terminal 131, the second connector 22D and the first connector 21A can be connected.

Further, for example, a second connector having three second terminals 132a to 132c can be connected to the first connector 21A shown in FIG. 7A around the second reference terminal 131. In this second connector, the three second terminals 132a to 132c are arranged at intervals of 90 ° in the circumferential direction when viewed from the connection direction Z1, and between the second terminals 132a to 132c and the second reference terminal 131. The spacing is equal to the spacing between each of the first terminals 62a-62d and the first reference terminal 61. Further, the second terminals 132a to 132c are short-circuited by the second connector side diversion member. Then, the second connector and the first connector 21A have the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 facing each other in the connection direction Z1 and the second reference terminal 131 around the axis extending in the connection direction Z1. It is possible to connect the second connector to the first connector 21 every time the second connector is rotated by 90 °.

Further, for example, the first connector 21B shown in FIG. 8A has three first terminals 62a to 62c around the first reference terminal 61. The three first terminals 62a to 62c are arranged at intervals of 120 ° in the circumferential direction when viewed from the connection direction Z1 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 8A), and the first terminals 62a to 62c and the first reference terminal are arranged. The spacing between 61 and 61 is equal to each other. That is, the first terminals 62a to 62c are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric three times with respect to the first reference terminal 61 when viewed from the connection direction Z1. Further, the first terminals 62a to 62c are short-circuited by the first connector side diversion member 81B. An electric wire connected to an inverter (not shown) is electrically connected to the first connector side diversion member 81B.

For example, the second connector 22E shown in FIG. 8B can be connected to such a first connector 21B. The second connector 22E has three second terminals 132a to 132c around the second reference terminal 131. The three second terminals 132a to 132c are arranged at intervals of 120 ° in the circumferential direction when viewed from the connection direction Z1 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 8B), and the second terminals 132a to 132c and the second reference terminal are arranged. The distance between 131 is equal to the distance between each of the first terminals 62a to 62c and the first reference terminal 61. As described above, the second terminals 132a to 132c are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric three times with the second reference terminal 131 as the center when viewed from the connection direction Z1. Further, the second terminals 132a to 132c are short-circuited by the second connector side diversion member 151C. An electric wire connected to the battery 11 is electrically connected to the second connector side diversion member 151C.

As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), with the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 facing each other in the connection direction Z1, the second reference is about the axis extending in the connection direction Z1. Every time the second connector 22E is rotated by 120 ° with respect to the first connector 21B about the terminal 131, the second connector 22E and the first connector 21B can be connected.

Further, for example, the second connector 22F shown in FIG. 8C can be connected to the first connector 21B shown in FIG. 8A. The second connector 22F has two second terminals 132a and 132b around the second reference terminal 131. The two second terminals 132a and 132b are arranged at intervals of 120 ° in the circumferential direction when viewed from the connection direction Z1 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 8C), and the second terminals 132a and 132d and the second reference terminal are respectively. The distance between 131 is equal to the distance between each of the first terminals 62a to 62c and the first reference terminal 61. Further, the second terminals 132a and 132b are short-circuited by the second connector side diversion member 151D. An electric wire connected to the battery 11 is electrically connected to the second connector side diversion member 151D.

As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (c), with the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 facing each other in the connection direction Z1, the second reference is about the axis extending in the connection direction Z1. Every time the second connector 22F is rotated by 120 ° with respect to the first connector 21B about the terminal 131, the second connector 22F and the first connector 21B can be connected.

Further, for example, the second connector 22G shown in FIG. 8D can be connected to the first connector 21B shown in FIG. 8A. The second connector 22G has one second terminal 132a around the second reference terminal 131. The distance between the second terminal 132a and the second reference terminal 131 is equal to the distance between each of the first terminals 62a to 62c and the first reference terminal 61. Further, an electric wire connected to the battery 11 is electrically connected to the second terminal 132a.

As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (d), with the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 facing each other in the connection direction Z1, the second reference is about the axis extending in the connection direction Z1. Every time the second connector 22G is rotated 180 ° with respect to the first connector 21B about the terminal 131, the second connector 22G and the first connector 21B can be connected.

When the first connector is provided with four or more first terminals, the distance between each of the first terminals and the first reference terminal 61 is such that the plurality of first terminals are the first when viewed from the connection direction Z1. 1 As long as they are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the reference terminal 61, they do not necessarily have to be equal. However, if the distance between each of the first terminals and the first reference terminal 61 is made equal, it is possible to prevent the first connector and the second connector from being enlarged in the direction orthogonal to the connection direction Z1.

In the first embodiment, in the first connector 21, the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b are formed of different parts from the housing main body 31 and are assembled to the housing main body 31. There is. However, the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b may be integrally provided with the housing main body 31 by being insert-molded into the housing main body 31. Further, the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b may be integrally provided with the back retainer 32 by being insert-molded into the back retainer 32. When the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b are insert-molded into the back retainer 32, the first fitting portion 41 does not necessarily have to include the support portion 42.

Similarly, in the first embodiment, in the second connector 22, the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b are formed of different parts from the housing main body 101 and are assembled to the housing main body 101. Has been done. However, the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b may be integrally provided with the housing main body 101 by being insert-molded into the housing main body 101. Further, the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b may be integrally provided with the back retainer 102 by being insert-molded into the back retainer 102. When the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b are insert-molded into the back retainer 102, the second fitting portion 111 does not necessarily have to include the support portion 112.

The same applies to the second embodiment.
-In the first embodiment, the first housing 30 is composed of a housing main body 31 and a back retainer 32. However, the configuration of the first housing 30 is not limited to this. For example, the first housing 30 may be one in which the housing body 31 and the back retainer 32 are integrally formed. In this case, the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b may be insert-molded into the first housing 30, or may be formed of separate parts and assembled. Further, at least one of the housing main body 31 and the back retainer 32 may be configured by assembling two or more parts. These are the same for the second housing 100 of the first embodiment. The same applies to the second embodiment.

-In the first embodiment, the shapes of the first housing 30 and the second housing 100 may be changed as appropriate. For example, in the first housing 30, the cylindrical portion 43 may be changed to a cylindrical shape, an elliptical tubular shape, a polygonal tubular shape, or the like. In this case, the cylindrical portion 113 of the second housing 100 is also changed according to the shape of the tubular portion 43 of the first housing 30. The same applies to the second embodiment.

In each of the above embodiments, the first reference terminal 61 may be a cathode, the first terminals 62a and 62b may be an anode, the second reference terminal 131 may be a cathode, and the second terminals 132a and 132b may be an anode.

In the first embodiment, the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b provided in the first connector 21 are female terminals, and the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminal provided in the second connector 22. 132a and 132b are male terminals. However, the first reference terminals 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b provided in the first connector 21 are male terminals, and the second reference terminals 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b provided in the second connector 22 are female terminals. May be. The same applies to the second embodiment.

-In each of the above embodiments, the first reference terminal 61, the first terminals 62a and 62b, the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b are all made of copper or a copper alloy, but other than copper and a copper alloy. It may be made of a conductive metal material. For example, the first reference terminal 61, the first terminals 62a, 62b, the second reference terminal 131, and the second terminals 132a, 132b may be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

-In each of the above embodiments, the shapes and configurations of the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b may be appropriately changed. In this case, the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a, 132b move the second connector 22 along the center line L11 of the second fitting portion 111, whereby the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminal 62a, It may be configured to be detachably and electrically connected to 62b.

For example, the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b, which are female terminals, are housed in a contact accommodating portion made of a conductive material and having a cylindrical shape, and inside the contact accommodating portion, and are electrically accommodated in the same contact accommodating portion. It may be a terminal composed of a contact member connected to. For example, when the first reference terminal 61 is changed to the terminal, the contact accommodating portion is internally fitted in the central holding portion 52 in the first housing 30, and the contact accommodating portion is used as an inverter outside the first housing 30. Electrically connect the connected wires. As the contact member accommodated inside the contact accommodating portion, for example, a member having a shape in which a plurality of leaf springs are arranged in the circumferential direction, that is, a member having a plurality of leaf springs arranged in a louver shape is used. .. This contact member is electrically connected to the contact accommodating portion by abutting on the inner peripheral surface of the contact accommodating portion. In this case, when the second reference terminal 131 is inserted into the first reference terminal 61 along the axial direction of the holding portion 52, the terminal body 133 of the second reference terminal 131 is inserted inside the contact member. Then, the plurality of leaf springs of the contact member come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the terminal body 133 while pressing the outer peripheral surface in the radial direction, so that the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 are electrically connected to each other. Connected to. In this way, since each leaf spring of the contact member has a contact portion in contact with the second reference terminal 131, the first reference terminal 61 has a large number of contact portions in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the contact resistance between the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 can be reduced, and even when a large current of 100 A or more is passed through the connector device 20, the contact portion abnormally generates heat. Is suppressed.

Further, as the contact member accommodated inside the contact accommodating portion, for example, an oblique coil spring can be used. This contact member is electrically connected to the contact accommodating portion by abutting on the inner peripheral surface of the contact accommodating portion. In this case, when the second reference terminal 131 is inserted into the first reference terminal 61 along the axial direction of the holding portion 52, the terminal body 133 of the second reference terminal 131 is inserted inside the contact member. Then, the contact member contacts the outer peripheral surface of the terminal body 133 while pressing the outer peripheral surface inward in the radial direction, so that the first reference terminal 61 and the second reference terminal 131 are electrically connected. Even in this way, the same effect as in the case of using the contact member having a plurality of leaf springs arranged in a louver shape can be obtained.

Further, for example, the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminals 62a and 62b, and the second reference terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b are the second reference with respect to the first reference terminal 61 and the first terminal 62a and 62b. The terminal 131 and the second terminals 132a and 132b may be electrically connected by abutting from the connection direction Z1.

In the first embodiment, the first connector 21 is fixed to the vehicle body 13, and the second connector 22 is fixed to the case 12 of the battery 11. However, the first connector 21 may be fixed to the case 12 of the battery 11 and the second connector 22 may be fixed to the vehicle body 13.

-In the first embodiment, the first connector 21 is fixed to the vehicle body 13. However, in addition to being directly fixed to the vehicle body 13, the first connector 21 is indirectly fixed to the vehicle body 13 via the device by being fixed to or mounted on a device such as an inverter. You may. The same applies to the second embodiment.

-In each of the above embodiments, the connector devices 20 and 20A are used to electrically connect the vehicle body 13 side of an electric vehicle such as an electric motorcycle or an electric bicycle to the battery 11. However, the applications of the connector devices 20 and 20A are not limited to this, and are used between one electric wire and the other electric wire when the connection and disconnection of one electric wire and the other electric wire are repeated. May be good. For example, it may be used to electrically connect the vehicle body side of an electric tricycle or four-wheeled vehicle to a battery.

The technical idea that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and modified example will be described.
(A) When viewed from the connection direction, the plurality of first terminals are arranged on the outer periphery of the first reference terminal, and the distance between each of the plurality of first terminals and the first reference terminal. 1 is claimed, wherein the distance between the second reference terminal and the second terminal is equal to the distance between the first reference terminal and the first terminal when viewed from the connection direction. Item 4. The connector device according to any one of Item 4.

According to the above aspect, it is possible to prevent the first connector and the second connector from being enlarged in the direction orthogonal to the connection direction between the first connector and the second connector.

20, 20A ... Connector device 21,21A, 21B ... First connector 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G ... Second connector 61 ... First reference terminal 62a to 62d ... First terminal 81, 81A , 81B ... 1st connector side diversion member 88 ... Connection part 131 ... 2nd reference terminal 132a to 132d ... 2nd terminal 151, 151A, 151B, 151C, 151D ... 2nd connector side diversion member Z1 ... Connection direction

Claims (4)

A first connector having a first reference terminal, a plurality of first terminals, and a first connector-side diversion member that short-circuits the plurality of the first terminals with each other.
The first connector having a second reference terminal electrically connected to the first reference terminal and a number of second terminals equal to or less than the number of the first terminals electrically connectable to the first terminal. With the second connector connected to
Equipped with
When viewed from the connection direction between the first connector and the second connector, the plurality of first terminals are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the first reference terminal.
The second terminal is a connector device capable of facing any one of the plurality of first terminals in the connection direction when the second reference terminal faces the first reference terminal in the connection direction. Two of the first terminals out of the plurality of first terminals are arranged so as to sandwich the first reference terminal between the two first terminals, and the two terminals are viewed from the connection direction. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal and the first reference terminal are arranged in a straight line. The connector device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second connector has the same number of the second terminals as the first terminal and a second connector-side diversion member that short-circuits a plurality of the second terminals with each other. .. The first connector side diversion member has a connecting portion to which an electric wire is connected, and any one of claims 1 to 3 has the same length of a current path from the connecting portion to each of the first terminals. The connector device described in.

Images