# US 2019/0379154 A1 · Connector

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- Number: US 2019/0379154 A1
- Document ID: US20190379154A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/481,865
- Filed: 2018-01-25
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-30
- Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
- Inventors: Seidou Nishijima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190379154A1

## CPC

- H01R 13/5202: {Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings}
- H01R 13/748: {using one or more screws (H01R13/746 takes precedence)}
- H01R 13/40: Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
- H01R 13/512: assembled by screw or screws
- H01R 13/5219: {Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal}
- H01R 13/2421: {using coil springs}
- H01R 2105/00: Three poles
- H01R 2201/10: for dynamoelectric machines
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A connector (10) in a first device is connected to a mating connector (80) in a second device while overlapping and fixing the devices. The connector (10) includes a terminal holding portion (30) to hold terminals (20). A flange (40) on an outer periphery of the terminal holding portion (30) is sandwiched between cases (60, 90) of the devices. A first seal (50A) is mounted on a surface of the flange (40) facing the first device and seals between an outer surface of the case (60) of the first device and the flange (40), and a second seal (50B) is mounted on a surface of the flange (40) facing the second device and seals between an outer surface of the case (90) of the second device and the flange (40). Mounted positions of the seals (50A, 50B) are aligned in an overlapping direction of the first and second devices.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connector connecting structure for connecting a connector mounted in an opening of a case of a first device and a mating connector mounted in a case of a second device and to be connected to the connector by overlapping and fixing the first device and the second device, wherein:
the connector includes:
a terminal holding portion configured to hold three terminals;
a flange in the form of a flat plate, provided on an outer periphery of the terminal holding portion and to be sandwiched between the case of the first device and a case of the second device;
a first sealing member mounted on a surface of the flange on the side of the first device and configured to seal between an outer surface of the case of the first device and the flange; and
a second sealing member mounted on a surface of the flange on the side of the second device and configured to seal between an outer surface of the case of the second device and the flange;
mounted positions of the first sealing member and the second sealing member are aligned in an overlapping direction of the first device and the second device;
a smooth portion on the first device side slightly projecting toward the flange, having a smooth surface and to be held in close contact with the first sealing member is provided on the outer surface of the case of the first device;
a smooth portion on the second device side slightly projecting toward the flange, having a smooth surface and to be held in close contact with the second sealing member is provided on the outer surface of the case of the second device;
the flange includes a flange body in the form of a flat plate continuously provided to an outer surface of the terminal holding portion and thin portions provided on both sides in a terminal arrangement direction in the flange body;
the first sealing member and the second sealing member are mounted on the flange body; and
the thin portions are provided with collars made of metal, bolts for fixing the flange to the case of the first device being inserted through the collars.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector connecting structure of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member have the same shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The connector connecting structure of claim 1, wherein the thin portions with which head of the bolts come into contact are recessed farther toward the case of the first device than the flange body provided with first and second mounting grooves.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The connector connecting structure of claim 1, wherein the terminal held in the terminal holding portion is connected to a mating terminal held in the mating connector by being butted against the mating terminal.