Connector structure

• US 7,749,010 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Cable Limited (Proterial Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Cable Limited (Proterial Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takehara, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US12/534,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20090291586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 439/247, 439/248, 439/384, 439/382
• US Class Current: 439/247
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/533 Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure H01R13/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A connector structure that can be less subject to the vibration of the equipment coupled to the connector is provided. In the inverter apparatus side connector structure, a packing, an insulation member, another packing and a terminal housing are fixed at the outer circumference of the inverter apparatus side terminal with its one end being formed as a male terminal structure having an approximately circular solid cylindrical shape, and the terminal housing is fixed at the inverter apparatus side housing with the dissipation member of vibration. The motor side connector structure is fixed at the motor side housing with the packing, etc. at the outer circumference of the motor side terminal with its one end being formed as a female terminal structure having an approximately circular hollow cylindrical shape.

Claims

1. A connector structure comprising:

a first equipment having a first equipment housing;

a first terminal having a terminal housing separate from the first equipment housing;

a dissipation member for absorbing vibration extending from the terminal housing to the first equipment housing to fix the first terminal to the first equipment housing such that the first terminal and the first equipment housing are moveable relative to each other;

wherein the terminal housing is connected with the first equipment housing by only the dissipation member for absorbing vibration, the dissipation member being arranged to extend in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinally extending axis of the first terminal, and a side of the first terminal is connected electrically to wiring inside the first equipment; and

a second equipment having a second terminal and a second equipment housing in which is directly fixed the second terminal to which the first terminal is to be connected,

wherein said first equipment is a power converter apparatus, and said second equipment is an electric motor.

2. The connector structure according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of terminals of said first equipment are fixed at said dissipation member.

3. The connector structure according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of terminals of said second equipment are fixed at a second terminal housing;

and

said second terminal housing is fixed at the housing of said second equipment.

4. The connector structure according to claim 1, wherein

the first terminal is a male terminal;

and

the second terminal is a female terminal.

5. The connector structure according to claim 1, wherein

the first terminal is a female terminal;

and

the second terminal is a male terminal.

6. The connector structure according to claim 1, wherein

said dissipation member has a ring shape.

7. The connector structure according to claim 6, wherein

an edge of an inner circumference of said dissipation member is fixed at the first terminal;

and

an edge of an outer circumference of said dissipation member is fixed at the first equipment housing.

8. The connector structure according to claim 6, wherein

said dissipation member has a circular ring shape with a cross sectional shape having an approximately H-shape.

9. The connector structure according to claim 6, wherein

said dissipation member has an approximately U-shaped protuberance part at the center of its cross sectional shape.

10. The connector structure according to claim 1, wherein said dissipation member is composed of fluororesin.

11. The connector structure according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging mechanism for limiting a relative movement between the first terminal and the second terminal at a state that the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other.

12. The connector structure according to claim 11, wherein said engaging mechanism is composed of a concave part formed at an outer circumference of the first or second terminal, a concave part formed at an inner circumference of the second or first terminal, and a ring member contained within a space formed by the concave part of the first or second terminal and the concave part of the second or first terminal when said first and second terminals are engaged to each other.

13. The connector structure according to claim 1, further comprising an axis position adjusting mechanism for adjusting an axis position of the first terminal and the second terminal when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other.

14. The connector structure according to claim 4, wherein a contact maker is provided at an inner circumference of the first or second terminal formed as a female terminal.

15. The connector structure according to claim 4, wherein a slide member is provided at an outer circumference of the first or second terminal formed as a female terminal.

16. The connector structure according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal and a wiring inside said first equipment fixed at the first equipment housing are connected electrically to each other by a flexible electrical connecting line.

17. The connector structure according to claim 16, wherein said electric connecting line is an electrically conductive plain braided wire and an insulative and heat-shrinkable tube installed at an outer circumference of the plain braided wire.

35. The connector structure according to claim 4, wherein said electric connecting line is an electrically conductive plain braided wire and an insulative and heat-shrinkable tube installed at an outer circumference of the plain braided wire.

36. The connector structure according to claim 5, wherein said electric connecting line is an electrically conductive plain braided wire and an insulative and heat-shrinkable tube installed at an outer circumference of the plain braided wire.

18. A connector structure comprising:

a first equipment having a first equipment housing;

a first terminal having a terminal housing separate from the first equipment housing;

a dissipation member for absorbing vibration extending from the terminal housing to the first equipment housing to fix the first terminal to the first equipment housing such that the first terminal and the first equipment housing are moveable relative to each other;

wherein the terminal housing is connected with the first equipment housing by only the dissipation member for absorbing vibration, the dissipation member being arranged to extend in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinally extending axis of the first terminal; and

a second equipment having a second terminal and a second equipment housing in which is directly fixed the second terminal to which the first terminal is to be connected and a side of the second terminal is connected electrically to a wiring inside the second equipment,

wherein said first equipment is an electric motor, and said second equipment is a power converter apparatus.

19. The connector structure according to claim 18, wherein

a plurality of terminals of said first equipment are fixed at said dissipation member.

20. The connector structure according to claim 18, wherein

a plurality of terminals of said second equipment are fixed at a second terminal housing;

and

said second terminal housing is fixed at the housing of said second equipment.

21. The connector structure according to claim 18, wherein

the first terminal is a male terminal;

and

the second terminal is a female terminal.

22. The connector structure according to claim 18, wherein

the first terminal is a female terminal;

and

the second terminal is a male terminal.

23. The connector structure according to claim 18, wherein

said dissipation member has a ring shape.

24. The connector structure according to claim 23, wherein

an edge of an inner circumference of said dissipation member is fixed at the first terminal;

and

an edge of an outer circumference of said dissipation member is fixed at the first equipment housing.

25. The connector structure according to claim 23, wherein

said dissipation member has a circular ring shape with a cross sectional shape having an approximately H-shape.

26. The connector structure according to claim 23, wherein

said dissipation member has an approximately U-shaped protuberance part at the center of its cross sectional shape.

27. The connector structure according to claim 18, wherein said dissipation member is composed of fluororesin.

28. The connector structure according to claim 18, further comprising an engaging mechanism for limiting a relative movement between the first terminal and the second terminal at a state that the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other.

29. The connector structure according to claim 28, wherein said engaging mechanism is composed of a concave part formed at an outer circumference of the first or second terminal, a concave part formed at an inner circumference of the second or first terminal, and a ring member contained within a space formed by the concave part of the first or second terminal and the concave part of the second or first terminal when said first and second terminals are engaged to each other.

30. The connector structure according to claim 18, further comprising an axis position adjusting mechanism for adjusting an axis position of the first terminal and the second terminal when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other.

31. The connector structure according to claim 21, wherein a contact maker is provided at an inner circumference of the first or second terminal formed as a female terminal.

32. The connector structure according to claim 21, wherein a slide member is provided at an outer circumference of the first or second terminal formed as a female terminal.

33. The connector structure according to claim 21, wherein the first terminal and a wiring inside said first equipment fixed at the first equipment housing are connected electrically to each other by a flexible electrical connecting line.

34. The connector structure according to claim 33, wherein said electric connecting line is an electrically conductive plain braided wire and an insulative and heat-shrinkable tube installed at an outer circumference of the plain braided wire.

37. The connector structure according to claim 21, wherein said electric connecting line is an electrically conductive plain braided wire and an insulative and heat-shrinkable tube installed at an outer circumference of the plain braided wire.

38. The connector structure according to claim 22, wherein said electric connecting line is an electrically conductive plain braided wire and an insulative and heat-shrinkable tube installed at an outer circumference of the plain braided wire.