A CONNECTOR DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC MACHINE TOOL

Abstract

A connector device according to one or more embodiments includes a male connector including multiple male contact pieces, and a male contact piece retention portion, and a female connector including multiple female contact pieces, and a female contact piece retention portion. The male contact piece retention portion has multiple concentrically formed convex portions. The multiple male contact pieces are mounted on an outer circumferential wall of the convex portions, and arranged concentrically, with a tip end thereof being inclined toward the center of the convex portions. The female contact piece retention portion has concentrically formed multiple concave portions. The multiple female contact pieces are mounted on an inner circumferential wall of the concave portions, and arranged concentrically, with a base end thereof being inclined toward the center of the concave portions. The convex portion and the concave portion are brought into contact and tightly fitted with one another.

Claims

1. A connector device for an electric machine tool, the connector device removably connecting an internal wiring of the electric machine tool, the connector device comprising: a male connector comprising: a plurality of male contact pieces; and a male contact piece retention portion that retains the plurality of male contact pieces; and a female connector comprising: a plurality of female contact pieces; and a female contact piece retention portion that retains the plurality of female contact pieces, wherein the male contact piece retention portion comprises a plurality of convex portions arranged concentrically, the plurality of male contact pieces are mounted on an outer peripheral wall of the convex portion and arranged concentrically, with a tip end thereof being inclined toward a center of the convex portion, the female contact piece retention portion comprises a plurality of concave portions arranged concentrically, the plurality of female contact pieces are mounted on an inner peripheral wall of the concave portion and arranged concentrically, with a base end thereof being inclined toward a center of the concave portion, and the convex portion, to which the male contact piece is mounted, and the concave portion, to which the female contact piece is mounted, are brought into contact and tightly fitted with one another.

2. The connector device for an electric machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion of the male contact piece retention portion has a convex stepped structure, and the concave portion of the female contact piece retention portion has a concave stepped structure.

3. The connector device for an electric machine tool according to claim 1, wherein a contact length along a connection axis of a connection between the male and female contact pieces in a connection portion between the convex portion, to which the male contact piece is mounted, and the concave portion, to which the female contact piece is mounted, is determined such that a contact length along the connection axis of the connection between the male and female contact pieces that are disposed in an inner portion is longer than a contact length along the connection axis of a connection between the male and female contact pieces that are disposed in an outer portion.

4. The connector device for an electric machine tool according to claim 1, wherein either one of the male connector or the female connector being mounted to a first casing, and the other one being mounted to a second casing, and a connection of the first casing and the second casing bringing the male connector and the female connector into a connection one another, at least one of the male connector or the female connector mounted to either one of the first casing or the second casing is movable in a direction of a connection axis in the casing to which it is mounted, the male connector or the female connector comprises an elastic member that is disposed in a rear of the movable male or the female connector, and the male connector and the female connector are brought into a connection, with the elastic member being urged when the first casing and the second casing are connected.

5. The connector device for an electric machine tool according to claim 1, wherein either one of the male connector or the female connector being mounted to a first casing, and the other one being mounted to a second casing, and a connection of the first casing and the second casing bringing the male connector and the female connector into a connection one another, the male connector or the female connector mounted to the first casing and the female connector or the male connector mounted to the second casing are both movable in a direction of a connection axis in the casing to which it is mounted, each of the male connector and the female connector comprises an elastic member that is disposed each of in a rear of the movable male connector and in a rear of the movable female connector, and the male connector and the female connector are brought into a connection, with the elastic member being urged when the first casing and the second casing are connected.

6. The connector device for an electric machine tool according to claim 4, further comprising a rotation prevention mechanism that prevents at least one of the male connector and the female connector mounted movably along the connection axis from being rotated in the casing.

7. The connector device for an electric machine tool according to claim 1, wherein either one of the male connector or the female connector is secured to a first casing, and the other one is slidably fitted and inserted into a second casing, the connector device further comprises a spacer comprises an elastic member that is disposed in the rear of the female connector or the male connector fitted and inserted into the second casing, and the male connector and the female connector are brought into connection, with the spacer being urged, by connecting the first casing and the second casing.

8. The connector device for an electric machine tool according to claim 7, further comprising a rotation prevention mechanism that prevents the female connector or the male connector slidably fitted and inserted into the second casing from being rotated in the second casing.

9. The connector device for an electric machine tool according to claim 5, further comprising a rotation prevention mechanism that prevents the male connector and/or the female connector mounted movably along the connection axis from being rotated in the casing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a male connector of a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a female connector of the first embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a connection state of the male and female connectors of the first embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a male connector of a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a female connector of the second embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a connection state of the male and female connectors of the second embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a connection state of the third embodiment;

[0039] FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating a concrete vibrator of the third embodiment;

[0040] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a modification example of the third embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating a connection state according to a modification example of the third embodiment;

[0042] FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating a connection state according to another modification example of the third embodiment;

[0043] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a connection state of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a connection state of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of another first casing and second casing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0046] FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams schematically illustrating a connector device for an electric machine tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a male connector 1. The male connector 1 comprises: three male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c; and a male contact piece retention portion 12 for retaining the male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c. The male contact piece retention portion 12 may be made of an insulative hard synthetic resin material, and may have a substantially cylindrical shape. Concentric convex stepped portions 12a, 12b, 12c centered on the central axis of the male contact piece retention portion 12 are formed on one side surface of the male contact piece retention portion 12. The concentric convex stepped portions 12a, 12b, 12c have different heights, which are gradually higher from outer periphery to the center. The convex stepped portions 12a, 12b, 12c may have a truncated cone shape slightly inclined toward the central axial direction of the male contact piece retention portion 12, with a height of each convex stepped portion (length in the axial direction) being gradually increased from the outer convex stepped portion 12a to the inner convex stepped portion 12c. (The convex stepped portion 12b is higher than the convex stepped portion 12a, and the convex stepped portion 12c is higher than the convex stepped portion 12b.) Annular portions of the respective male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c, which are made of a conductor, are externally mounted to respective outer peripheral walls of the convex stepped portions 12a, 12b, 12c. The male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are arranged concentrically and shaped to conform to the shape of the respective outer peripheral wall of the convex stepped portions 12a, 12b, 12c, with their tips being slightly inclined toward the center of the convex stepped portions 12a, 12b, 12c. The height (axial length) of the annular portions of the male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are gradually increased from the outer male contact piece 11a to the inner male contact piece 11c. (The male contact piece 11b is higher than the male contact piece 11a, and the male contact piece 11c is higher than the male contact piece 11b.) The base ends of the male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are inserted into and secured to a groove formed in the male contact piece retention portion 12, and then connected to respective leads 13a, 13b, 13c. The outer peripheral shape of the male contact piece retention portion 12 is circular in this embodiment, but it may be rectangular or various other shapes. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a female connector 2. The female connector 2 comprises: three female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c, and a female contact piece retention portion 22 for retaining the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c. The female contact piece retention portion 22 is made of an insulative hard synthetic resin material, and may have a substantially cylindrical shape having the same diameter as the diameter of the male contact retention portion 12 of the male connector 1. Concentric concave stepped portions 22a, 22b, 22c are formed on one side surface of the female contact piece retention portion 22, centering on the central axis of the female contact piece retention portion 22. The concave stepped portions 22a, 22b, 22c have different heights, which are gradually decreasing from outer periphery toward the center. The concave stepped portions 22a, 22b, 22c may have a truncated cone shape, slightly inclined toward the central axis of the female contact piece retention portion 22. Annular portions of the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c, each made of a conductor, are externally mounted to an inner peripheral wall of the concave stepped portions 22a, 22b, 22c. The height (axial length) of the annular portions of the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c is increased gradually from the outer female contact piece 21a to the inner female contact piece 21c. (The female contact piece 21b is higher than the female contact piece 21a, and the female contact piece 21c is higher than the female contact piece 21b.) The female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c are arranged concentrically, with a base end thereof being slightly inclined toward the center of the concave stepped portions 22a, 22b, 22c, conforming to the shapes of the inner peripheral walls of the concave stepped portions 22a, 22b, 22c (whose inclination angle is the same as the inclination angle of the male contact piece). Each of the base end of the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c is inserted into and secured to a groove formed in the female contact piece retention portion 22, and then connected to respective leads 23a, 23b, 23c. A reference numeral 24 in the drawing denotes a ridge for preventing the female connector 2 from rotating in the second casing when the female connector 2 is slidably fitted and inserted into the second casing (which is described in a third embodiment). The outer peripheral shape of the female contact piece retention portion 22 is circular in this embodiment, but it may be rectangular or various other shapes.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 being coupled together. The male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are configured as described above. Therefore, when the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are coupled, respective convex stepped portions 12a, 12b, 12c of the male connector 1, to which respective male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are mounted, and respective concave stepped portions 22a, 22b, 22c of the female connector 2, to which respective female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c are mounted, are fitted and brought into close contact with one another, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The male contact piece 11a and the female contact piece 21a are brought into a contact state, which is retained by the convex stepped portion 12a of the male contact piece retention portion 12, and by the concave stepped portion 22a of the female contact piece retention portion 22. Similarly, the male contact piece 11b and the female contact piece 21b are brought into a contact state, which is retained by the convex stepped portion 12b and by the concave stepped portion 22b; and the male contact piece 11c and the female contact piece 21c are brought into a contact state, which is retained by the convex stepped portion 12c and the concave stepped portion 22c. Gaps that might allow motion of the male and female contact pieces in a circumferential direction may not readily form in the connection portion, thus allowing for robust vibration resistance in the circumferential direction of the connection portion.

[0049] Connection portions between the male and female contact pieces are positioned offset axially. Specifically, a position of the connection portion between the convex stepped portion 12a, to which the male contact piece 11a is mounted, and the concave stepped portion 22a, to which the female contact piece 21a is mounted; a position of the connection portion between the convex stepped portion 12b, to which the male contact piece 11b is mounted, and the concave stepped portion 22b, to which the female contact piece 21b is mounted; as well as a position of the connection portion between the convex stepped portion 12c, to which the male contact piece 11c is mounted, and the concave stepped portion 22c, to which the female contact piece 21c is mounted, are displaced with respect to one another along the connection axis. This means that the contact portions between male and female contact pieces, which are potentially weak portions of the entire device, are distributed along the connection axis. This configuration can facilitate increased overall strength of the connection portions of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, further enhancing vibration resistance.

[0050] The male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are arranged concentrically, with a tip end thereof being slightly inclined toward the center of the convex stepped portions 12a, 12b, 12c. The female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c are arranged concentrically, with a base end thereof being slightly inclined toward the center of the concave stepped portions 22a, 22b, 22c (whose inclination angle is the same as the inclination angle of the male contact piece). Therefore, urging the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 together along the connection axis can surely bring the respective male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c and the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c into a surface contact with one another.

[0051] Coupling and decoupling the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 may be performed by inserting one into the other, and by pulling them linearly in the connection direction. But it may be also possible to smoothly couple and decouple them by rotating one or both of the connectors.

[0052] The height (axial length) of the annular portions of the male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c is gradually increased (higher) from the outer male contact piece 11a, which is the lowest, to the inner male contact piece 11c, which is the highest. Similarly, the height (axial length) of the annular portion of the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c is gradually increased from the outer female contact piece 21a to the inner female contact piece 21c. The length of contact between each male contact piece and each female contact pieces along the connection axis may thus be set as follows: a contact length Lb of an inner contact between the male contact piece 11b and the female contact piece 21b is longer than a contact length La of the outermost contact between the male contact piece 11a and the female contact piece 21a; and a contact length Lc of a further inner contact between the male contact piece 11c and the female contact piece 21c is longer than the contact length Lb of the contact between the male contact piece 11b and the female contact piece 21b. When concentrically arranged plurality of male and female contact pieces are to be coupled together, if the contact lengths between the male and female contact pieces along the connection axis are the same, a contact surface area between the male and female contact pieces that are disposed in an inner portion becomes smaller than a contact area between the male and female contact pieces that are disposed in an outer portion, resulting in a difference in contact resistance. In contrast, by setting the contact length along the connection axis of the contact between the male and female contact pieces that are disposed in the inner portion is made longer than the contact length of the contact between the male and female contact pieces that are disposed in the outer portion as described above, the difference in contact area between the male and female contact pieces that are disposed in the inner portion and the male and female contact pieces that are disposed in the outer portion can be reduced, and thus the difference in contact resistance can be reduced.

[0053] FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams schematically illustrating a connector device for an electric machine tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a male connector 1 in the second embodiment. Similarly to the male connector 1 according to the first embodiment, the male connector 1 according to the second embodiment comprises: three male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c; and a male contact piece retention portion 12 for retaining the male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c. The male contact piece retention portion 12 is made of an insulative hard synthetic resin material and may have a substantially cylindrical shape. An annular convex stepped portion 12a and a cylindrical convex stepped portion 12c are formed in the male connector 1 according to the second embodiment, on one side surface of the male contact piece retention portion 12, and concentrically about the central axis of the male contact piece retention portion 12. The convex stepped portions 12a, 12c each have a substantially trapezoidal shape in cross section, with respective peripheral wall surfaces of the convex stepped portion 12a, 12c being slightly inclined toward the center of each convex stepped portion. An annular portion of the male contact piece 11a is externally mounted to an outer peripheral wall located outside the convex stepped portion 12a; and an annular portion of the male contact piece 11b is externally mounted to an outer peripheral wall inside the convex stepped portion 12a; and an annular portion of the male contact piece 11c is externally mounted to an outer peripheral wall of the convex stepped portion 12c. (Each of the male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are made of a conductor.) The male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are arranged concentrically, with a tip end thereof being slightly inclined toward the center of the convex stepped portions 12a, 12c, conforming to the shape of the outer peripheral wall of the convex stepped portions 12a, 12c. A base end of the respective male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c is inserted into and secured to a groove formed in the male contact piece retention portion 12, and then connected to respective leads 13a, 13b, 13c. The outer peripheral shape of the male contact piece retention portion 12 is circular in this embodiment, but it may be rectangular or various other shapes, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a female connector 2 in the second embodiment. Similarly to the female connector 2 according to the first embodiment, the female connector 2 according to the second embodiment comprises: three female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c; and a female contact piece retention portion 22 for retaining the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c. The female contact piece retention portion 22 is made of an insulative hard synthetic resin material and may have a substantially cylindrical shape having the same diameter as the diameter of the male contact retention portion 12 of the male connector 1. An annular concave stepped portion 22a and a cylindrical concave stepped portion 12c are arranged in the female connector 2 according to the second embodiment, on one side surface of the female contact piece retention portion 22, and concentrically about the central axis of the female contact piece retention portion 22. The concave stepped portions 22a, 22c may have a substantially trapezoidal shape in cross section, with respective peripheral wall surfaces of the concave stepped portions 22a, 22c being slightly inclined toward the center of each concave stepped portion. An annular portion of the female contact piece 21a is externally mounted to an inner peripheral wall outside the concave stepped portion 22a; an annular portion of the female contact piece 21b is externally mounted to an inner peripheral wall inside the concave stepped portion 22a; and an annular portion of the female contact piece 21c is externally mounted to an inner peripheral wall of the concave stepped portion 22c. (Each of the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c is made of a conductor.) The female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c are arranged concentrically, with a base end thereof being slightly inclined toward the center of the respective concave stepped portions 22a, 22c (whose inclination angle is the same as the inclination angle of the male contact piece), conforming to the shape of the inner peripheral wall of the concave stepped portions 22a, 22c. A base end of the respective female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c is inserted into and secured to a groove formed in the female contact piece retention portion 22, and then connected to respective leads 23a, 23b, 23c. A reference numeral 24 in the drawing denotes a ridge for preventing the female connector 2 from rotating in the second casing when the female connector 2 is slidably fitted and inserted into the second casing. The outer peripheral shape of the female contact piece retention portion 12 is circular in this embodiment, but it may be rectangular or various other shapes, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0056] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 according to the second embodiment are coupled. Since the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 according to the second embodiment are configured as described above, when the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are coupled, the respective convex stepped portions 12a, 12c of the male connector 1, to which the male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are mounted, and the concave stepped portions 22a, 22c of the female connector 2, to which the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c are mounted, are fitted in close contact with one another, as illustrated in FIG. 6. A contact state between the male contact piece 11a and the female contact piece 21a and the male contact piece 11b and the female contact piece 21b is retained by the convex stepped portion 12a of the male contact piece retention portion 12, and by the concave stepped portion 22a of the female contact piece retention portion 22; and a contact state between the male contact piece 11c and the female contact piece 21c is retained by the convex stepped portion 12c and by the concave stepped portion 22c. Gaps that might allow motion of the male and female contact pieces in the circumferential direction may not form in the connection portion, thus allowing for robust vibration resistance in the circumferential direction in the connection portion.

[0057] The male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are arranged concentrically, with a tip end thereof being slightly inclined toward the center of the convex stepped portions 12a, 12c. The female contact pieces 21a, 21c are arranged concentrically, with a base end thereof being slightly inclined toward the center of the concave stepped portions 22a, 22c (whose inclination angle is the same as the inclination angle of the male contact piece). The male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c and the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c can thus be surely brought into surface contact with one another, by urging the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 together along the connection axis. Coupling and decoupling the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 may be performed by linearly inserting one into the other, and linearly pulling them in the connection direction. However, it is also possible to smoothly couple and decouple them by rotating one or both connectors.

[0058] FIGS. 7 to 12 are diagrams schematically illustrating a connector device for an electric machine tool according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, a casing is mounted to each of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 according to the first embodiment.

[0059] In the description of the third embodiment, a vibrator casing 3 of a concrete vibrator is used as an example of a first casing, to which the male connector 1 or the female connector 2 is mounted. A hose joint 4 is used as an example of a second casing, to which the female connector 2 is mounted when the male connector 1 is mounted to the first casing. Note that, the male connector 1 is mounted to the second casing when the female connector 2 is mounted to the first casing.

[0060] The vibrator casing 3 as the first casing is configured using a cylindrical member made of steel. An eccentric weight 5 and a motor 6 are mounted in the vibrator casing 3. The eccentric weight 5 serves as a vibration generator of the concrete vibrator. The motor 6 is used to rotate the eccentric weight 5. The male connector 1 is secured to the base end of the vibrator casing 3. Respective leads 13a, 13b, 13c connected to the male contact pieces 11a, 11b, 11c are connected to a stator of the motor 6. An internal thread 31 is formed on an inner surface at the base end of the vibrator casing 3, to which the male connector 1 has been secured, for a screw connection to a connection portion of the hose joint 4.

[0061] The hose joint 4 as the second casing is configured using a cylindrical member made of steel, having the same diameter as that of the vibrator casing 3. An external thread 41 is formed on one end of the hose joint 4 to provide a screw connection to the base end of the vibrator casing 3. A hose connection portion 42 is provided on the other end of the hose joint 4. The hose connection portion 42 is connected and fitted into an inner cavity of a hose 7. The hose joint 4 has an inner cavity 43 having a diameter that accommodates the female connector 2 slidably fitted and inserted into the inner cavity 43. The inner cavity 43 has a diameter gradually reduced in a portion nearer the hose connection portion 42. The inner cavity 43 has a groove 431 along the axis. The groove 431 can be fitted into a ridge 24 formed on an outer peripheral surface of the female connector 2. The female connector 2 may be fitted and inserted into the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4 through a rubber spacer 8, and slidable in the axial direction. The spacer 8 may have a shape that can be fitted with a portion of the inner cavity 43 nearer to the hose connection portion. Respective leads 23a, 23b, 23c connected to the female contact pieces 21a, 21b, 21c are drawn to the hose 7 through inside the spacer 8. The female connector 2 is mounted to the hose joint 4 such that it is slidable only in the axial direction of the hose joint 4, in which the ridge 24 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the female connector 2 is fitted with the groove 431 formed in the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4, and fitted and inserted into the inner cavity 43. Therefore, there is no risk that the female connector 2 rotates in the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4. As described above, in this embodiment, the rotation prevention mechanism is configured by the ridge 24 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the female connector 2, and by the groove 431 formed in the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4. Alternatively, the rotation prevention mechanism may have a configuration (not shown), in which the female contact piece retention portion 22 of the female connector 2 has a substantially prism-like shape having a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape in cross section, and the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4 has a shape into which the female contact piece retention portion 22 having the substantially rectangular shape in cross section can be slidably fitted. The ridges 24 and the groove 431 are not required in this example.

[0062] FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating a connection state of a concrete vibrator comprising a connector apparatus for an electric machine tool according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are coupled by screwing the vibrator casing 3, to which the male connector 1 has been secured, to the hose joint 4, to which the female connector 2 has been mounted such that the vibrator casing 3 is slidable in an axial direction in the inner cavity 43. In the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4, the rubber spacer 8 is disposed in the rear of the female connector 2.

[0063] Therefore, when the vibrator casing 3 and the hose joint 4 are screwed together, the male connector 1 secured to the vibrator casing 3 urges the female connector 2 in the axial direction. The female connector 2 urged by the male connector 1 slides rearward and then urges the spacer 8. The spacer 8 urged by the female connector 2 is blocked by a portion of the inner cavity 43 at which the diameter is reduced, and thus the female connector 2 is pushed back toward the male connector 1 due to the elastic force of the spacer 8. The male connector 1 and the female connector 2 may thus retain a connection while being normally urged one another, further enhancing vibration resistance in the connection portion. Other advantages of the connection between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are similar to those obtained with the connector device of the first embodiment.

[0064] FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams schematically illustrating modification examples of the third embodiment, wherein casings, to which the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are respectively mounted, are switched. In other words, the female connector 2 is secured to the vibrator casing 3, which is the first casing; meanwhile the male connector 1 is slidably fitted and inserted into the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4, which is the second casing, in an axial direction through the rubber spacer 8. In this modification example, a ridge 24 is not formed on the outer peripheral surface of the female connector 2 which is to be secured to the vibrator casing 3. Instead, a ridge 14 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the male connector 1 which is fitted and inserted into the hose joint 4. Other configurations are similar to those of the third embodiment described above. This modification example can also provide similar advantages to those obtained according to the third embodiment.

[0065] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another modification example of the third embodiment. In this modification example, instead of the rubber spacer 8, a steel spring (compression coil spring) 81 is used as an elastic member disposed in the rear of a male connector or a female connector that is movable along the connection axis in the casing. In this modification example, the female connector 2 is fitted and inserted into the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4, which is the second casing, and slidable in an axial direction through the steel spring 81 supported by a support plate 9. Other configurations are similar to those of the third embodiment.

[0066] In this modification example, the steel spring 81 is disposed in the rear of the female connector 2 in the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4. Therefore, when the vibrator casing 3 and the hose joint 4 are screwed together, the male connector 1 secured to the vibrator casing 3 urges the female connector 2 in the axial direction. The female connector 2 urged by the male connector 1 then slides rearward and urges the spring 81. Since the spring 81 urged by the female connector 2 is supported by the support plate 9, the female connector 2 is pushed back toward the male connector 1 due to the elastic force of the spring 81. In this way, the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are coupled, while being normally urged together. Vibration resistance in the connection portion can thus be improved similarly to the third embodiment. Since the steel spring 81 is superior to the rubber spacer 8 in terms of durability, the durability can be improved when the steel spring 81 is used as the elastic member disposed in the rear of a male connector or a female connector that is movable along the connection axis inside the casing, as compared with a case where the rubber spacer 8 is used. Other advantages are similar to those of the third embodiment.

[0067] FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating a fourth embodiment. The third embodiment is an example in which the male connector 1 is secured to the vibrator casing 3 (first casing), and the elastic member (a rubber spacer 8 or spring 81) is disposed in the rear of the female connector 2, which is mounted movably along the connection axis inside the hose joint 4 (second casing). In contrast, in the fourth embodiment, the female connector 2 is secured to the hose joint 4 (second casing), which is mounted movably along the connection axis inside the vibrator casing 3 (first casing), and an elastic member (a spring or rubber spacer) is disposed in the rear of the male connector 1.

[0068] In the fourth embodiment, a cylindrical concave portion 15 is formed on a surface in the rear of the male connector 1, which is mounted to the vibrator casing 3 (a side opposite to the side to be connected to the female connector 2). A steel spring (compression coil spring) 81 is fitted and inserted into the concave portion 15. A securing shaft 91 is inserted into a hole in a supporting member 9 of the vibrator casing 3 and into an inner cavity of the spring 81 fitted and inserted into the concave portion 15 of the male connector 1. A tip of the securing shaft 9 is screwed into the male connector 1, thereby the male connector 1 is mounted to the vibrator casing 3. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the securing shaft 91 has a length such that a certain degree of a gap S may be left between a flange 911 of the securing shaft 91 and the supporting member 9 in a state where the male connector 1 is urged to a degree such that the male connector 1 abuts against the supporting member 9. The male connector 1 is thus movable in the axial direction by a length of a gap S. When the flange 911 of the securing shaft 91 does not abut against the supporting member 9 (in a state where the gap S exists), the male connector 1 is kept urged in the direction of the connection with the female connector 2 from the rear due to the elastic force of the spring 81. In the fourth embodiment, the spring 81 is used as the elastic member that urges the male connector 1 along the connection axis from the rear, however, a cylindrical rubber spacer may be used instead.

[0069] A protrusion 92 is formed on a front surface (a surface to which the male connector 1 is mounted) of the supporting member 9. A protrusion insertion hole 16, into which the protrusion 92 can be inserted, is formed on a rear surface of the male connector 1. When the male connector 1 is mounted to the supporting member 9 with the protrusion 92 being inserted into the protrusion insertion hole 16, the male connector 1 will not rotate in the circumferential direction. The length of the protrusion 92 is determined to be longer than the length of the gap S. With this configuration, the protrusion 92 will not be disengaged from the protrusion insertion hole 16 even when the male connector 1 is moved to the maximum in the direction of connection with the female connector 2 due to the elastic force of the spring 81 (when the flange 911 of the securing shaft 91 abuts against the supporting member 9). This can surely avoid the rotation of the male flange 1 in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the protrusion 92 is provided on the supporting member 9, and the protrusion insertion hole 16 is provided on the male connector 1. However, the protrusion 92 may be provided on the male connector 1 and the protrusion insertion hole 16 may be provided on the supporting member 9, instead.

[0070] The female connector 2 is secured in the inner cavity 43 of the hose joint 4 (second casing). The female connector 2 thus will not move in a connection axis direction, and will not rotate in the circumferential direction as well. A reference symbol P in the drawing refers to a spacer made of resin.

[0071] In the fourth embodiment, the elastic member (spring or rubber spacer) is disposed in the rear of the male connector 1 in the vibrator casing 3 (first casing). Therefore, when the vibrator casing 3 and the hose joint 4 are screwed together, the female connector 2 secured to the hose joint 4 urges the male connector 1 in the axial direction. The male connector 1 urged by the female connector 2 then moves rearward and urges the elastic member (spring or rubber spacer). The male connector 1, however, is pushed back due to the elastic force of the elastic member (spring or rubber spacer). As a result, the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are coupled while being urged together, and thus similar advantages to those of the third embodiment can be obtained.

[0072] FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically illustrating a fifth embodiment, wherein the configuration of the hose joint 4 (second casing), to which the female connector 2 is mounted, in the third embodiment is combined with the configuration of the vibrator casing 3 (first casing), to which the male connector 1 is mounted, in the fourth embodiment. Since the configuration of the hose joint 4 (second casing), to which the female connector 2 is mounted, was described in the third embodiment, and the configuration of the vibrator casing 3 (first casing), to which the male connector 1 is mounted, was described in the fourth embodiment, the description of these configurations is omitted.

[0073] In the fifth embodiment, the spring 81 is illustrated as an elastic member that urges the male connector 1 along the connection axis from the rear, and the rubber spacer 8 is illustrated as an elastic member that urges the female connector 2 along the connection axis from the rear. Alternatively, a cylindrical rubber spacer may be used as an elastic member disposed in the rear of the male connector 1, or a spring may be used as an elastic member disposed in the rear of the female connector 2, instead.

[0074] In the fifth embodiment, the male connector 1 mounted to the vibrator casing 3 (first casing) and the female connector 2 mounted to the hose joint 4 (second casing) are urged together along the connection axis (the direction to the other connector) by respective elastic members (spring 81, spacer 8) disposed at the rear thereof. This configuration allows for more robust connection state between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2.

[0075] In the description of the third to fifth embodiments, the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 according to the first embodiment are used. It goes without saying that the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 according to the second embodiment may also be used, in place of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 according to the first embodiment. When the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 according to the second embodiment are used in the third to fifth embodiments, the advantage of the vibration resistance in the connection portion that can be further improved by the effects of the spacer 8 or the spring 81 will be similar to the advantage of the third to fifth embodiments. However, other advantages of the connection portion between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 will be similar to those obtained with the connector device according to the second embodiment.

[0076] In the description of the third to fifth embodiments, the vibrator casing 3 of the concrete vibrator is used as an example of the first casing, and the hose joint 4 is used as an example of the second casing. The first casing and the second casing, however, are not limited to these examples. Various types of casings, which can be used as a casing for a connector device used for an internal wiring connection of an electric machine tool, can be used for the first casing and the second casing. For instance, FIG. 15 illustrates an example in which the hose coupling 4 of the concrete vibrator is used for the first casing, and a joint C of a switch case SW is used for the second casing (leads or the like are omitted in the drawing).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0077] The present invention relates to a connector device for use in an internal wiring connection of various electric machine tools that cause vibration, and has industrial applicability.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0078] 1: Male connector [0079] 11a, 11b, 11c, (11n): Male contact piece [0080] 12: Male contact piece retention portion [0081] 12a, 12b, 12c, (12n): Convex stepped portion [0082] 13a, 13b, 13c, (13n): Leads [0083] 14: Ridge [0084] 15: Concave portion [0085] 16: Protrusion insertion hole [0086] 2: Female connector [0087] 21a, 21b, 21c, (21n): Female contact piece [0088] 22: Female contact piece retention portion [0089] 22a, 22b, 22c, (22n): Concave stepped portion [0090] 23a, 23b, 23c, (23n): Leads [0091] 24: Ridge [0092] 3: Vibrator casing (First casing) [0093] 31: Connection internal thread [0094] 4: Hose joint (Second casing) [0095] 41: Connection external thread [0096] 42: Hose connection [0097] 43: Inner cavity [0098] 431: Groove [0099] 5: Eccentric weight [0100] 6: Motor [0101] 7: Hose [0102] 8: Spacer [0103] 81: Spring [0104] 9: Supporting member [0105] 91: Securing shaft [0106] 911: Flange [0107] 92: Protrusion [0108] S: Gap [0109] P: Resin spacer [0110] C: Switch joint