connection terminal

Abstract

A connection terminal includes a terminal connection portion configured to be electrically connected to a counterpart terminal, a wire connection portion configured to be electrically connected to an electric wire, a holding portion provided between the terminal connection portion and the wire connection portion and configured to be held by a housing, a sealed space formed in the holding portion, latent heat storage material and a gas sealed in the sealed space, a sealed hole that communicates the sealed space with a space outside the connection terminal, and a plug member configured to block the sealed hole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a connection terminal. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, connectors (charging sockets) installed in vehicles such as electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles are used to supply power (charge) to the battery installed on the vehicle from outside the vehicle. In these connectors, it is necessary to increase the current to increase the capacity of the installed energy storage device and shorten the charging time, etc. However, when the current increases, the temperature of the connector rises due to the heat generated at the terminal connection portion of the connector caused by the current. Therefore, in connectors including terminal connections, such as charging sockets, connectors capable of preventing temperature rise during power-on have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents JP2019-197641A and JP2020-187920A).

[0003] The connector disclosed in the prior art includes a terminal having: a base connected to an electrical wire; and a tubular portion extending away from the base and having an outer peripheral surface that contacts a mating terminal of a mating connector. A heat transfer element (latent heat storage material) is sealed within a closed space (sealed space) defined by the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion. The heat transfer element absorbs a portion of the heat generated at the tubular portion during conduction between the terminal and the mating terminal and transfers the absorbed heat to the base. Therefore, temperature rise of the heat-generating portion of the terminal can be effectively prevented.

[0004] The connector disclosed in another prior art above includes a terminal having a retaining portion integrally formed with a terminal connection portion and a wire connection portion, and a heat storage body held by the retaining portion. The heat storage body includes a heat storage material (latent heat storage material) housed inside a housing (sealed space) held by the retaining portion. The heat storage material is capable of absorbing heat generated in the terminal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the terminal from rising rapidly.

[0005] However, in order to seal the heat transfer component within the closed space of the terminal in the connector disclosed in the prior art, after the heat transfer component is housed in the tubular portion, the base or blocking portion needs to be engaged with the open end of the bottomed tubular portion to be blocked, making the sealing of the heat transfer component difficult. Furthermore, in the connector disclosed in the latter prior art, in order to retain the heat storage material in the holding portion of the terminal, after the heat storage material is housed in the housing body, a cover needs to be welded and fixed to seal the opening of the bottomed tubular housing body, making the sealing of the heat storage material difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An exemplary aspect of this disclosure is a connection terminal in which latent heat storage material is readily sealed within a sealing space of the terminal.

[0007] According to an exemplary aspect of the subject matter of this disclosure, a connection terminal includes: a terminal connection portion configured to be electrically connected to a mating terminal; a wire connection portion configured to be electrically connected to a wire; a retaining portion disposed between the terminal connection portion and the wire connection portion and configured to be retained by a housing; a sealing space formed in the retaining portion; a latent heat storage material and a gas sealed in the sealing space; a sealing hole communicating the sealing space with a space outside the connection terminal; and a plug member configured to block the sealing hole.

[0008] Other aspects and advantages of the subject matter of this disclosure will become apparent from the following description, drawings and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a general perspective view of a charging port including connection terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The front view of the charging port is shown.

[0011] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the charging port shown;

[0012] Figure 4 This shows a wire with terminals attached from... Figure 3 A perspective view showing the base retainer in disassembled state;

[0013] Figure 5 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view taken from line AA in the diagram;

[0014] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A plan view of the connection terminals shown;

[0015] Figure 7 It is along Figure 6 A cross-sectional view taken from line BB in the middle;

[0016] Figure 8 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a one-piece molded article of a connecting terminal according to an embodiment;

[0017] Figure 9 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a secondary molded article of a connecting terminal according to an embodiment;

[0018] Figure 10 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a three-dimensional molded article of a connecting terminal according to an embodiment;

[0019] Figure 11This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a four-stage molded article of a connecting terminal according to an embodiment;

[0020] Figure 12 This illustrates filling latent heat storage material into... Figure 11 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the operation within the sealed space of the four-stage molded article; and

[0021] Figure 13 This illustrates sealing latent heat storage materials and gas within... Figure 12 The diagram shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the operation within the sealed space of the four-stage molded article. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] The charging socket 1, including the terminal 10 as a connection terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, is a connector that is provided in a vehicle such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle and is connected to a wire extending from a battery installed in the vehicle. When the mating connector (so-called charging gun) engages with the mating recess 63 of the charging socket 1 (see... Figure 1 During this process, electricity is supplied to the battery from outside the vehicle and the battery is charged.

[0024] In the following text, for ease of description, "front-back direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are defined as follows: Figure 1 As shown in the diagram. The "front-to-back direction", "width direction", and "vertical direction" are orthogonal to each other. The front-to-back direction and the mating direction of the charging socket 1 are aligned with the mating direction of the mating connector (not shown). The front side (the side closer to the mating connector) in the mating direction when viewed from the charging socket 1 is called the "front side", and the side that is disengaged (the side away from the mating connector) when viewed from the charging socket 1 is called the "rear side".

[0025] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the charging port 1 includes a pair of terminals (connection terminals) 10 and a housing 20 that accommodates the pair of terminals 10. The pair of terminals 10 are respectively connected to one end of a pair of wires 2 to form a pair of wires 3 with terminals attached. The other end of the pair of wires 2 is connected to a battery (not shown). The wires 2 include conductor cores 2a and a cover 2b covering the conductor cores 2a (see [reference needed]). Figure 5 The coating 2b is made of insulating resin. The components constituting the charging port 1 will be described in sequence below.

[0026] First, the housing 20 will be described. In this embodiment, as... Figure 1 , 5As shown, the housing 20 includes a base retainer 50, an inner housing body 60, and an outer housing body 70. Each of the base retainer 50, the inner housing body 60, and the outer housing body 70 is a frame component of the housing 20 and forms part of the outer surface of the housing 20. The components constituting the housing 20 will be described sequentially below. A “frame component” of the housing 20 refers to a component, for example, having sufficient rigidity and strength to maintain the shape of the housing 20, such that when the terminal 10 mates with a mating terminal (not shown), it retains the position of the terminal 10 against external forces applied to the terminal 10. In other words, a “frame component” refers to a component made of a material that does not soften, become brittle, or otherwise become difficult to maintain its shape due to increased operating temperature of the terminal 10.

[0027] The base retainer 50 has the function of holding a pair of terminals 10 in a state where the terminals 10 are insulated from each other at a certain interval in the left-right direction. For example... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the base retainer 50 integrally includes a resin retainer 30 and a metal retainer 40. The resin retainer 30 has a pair of terminal retaining portions 31 arranged in the left-right direction, and the metal retainer 40 covers the outer peripheral surface of the resin retainer 30.

[0028] like Figure 5 As shown, the terminal holding portion 31 of the resin retainer 30 has a stepped cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction. A pair of terminal holding portions 31 are connected by a connecting portion 32. A pair of terminals 10 are inserted into the internal space of the pair of terminal holding portions 31 from the rear side. Figure 5 As shown, the terminal holding portion 31 has an annular locking protrusion 37 protruding radially inward on the inner wall surface of its front end portion. The annular locking protrusion 37 corresponds to the stepped portion 13 of the terminal 10.

[0029] like Figure 4 and 5 As shown, the metal retainer 40 includes a tubular portion 41 extending in the front-rear direction. The front portion of the tubular portion 41 has an inner circumferential shape corresponding to the outer circumferential shape of the resin retainer 30, and can be mounted from the rear side of the resin retainer 30 in such a way that it covers the outer circumferential surfaces of a pair of terminal retaining portions 31 and the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion 32 that connects the terminal retaining portions 31 in the left-right direction. Water is provided by an O-ring 95 between the outer circumferential surface of the rear end of the terminal retaining portion 31 and the inner circumferential surface of the metal retainer 40.

[0030] The rear portion of the tubular section 41 has a pair of wire through holes 46 arranged in the left-right direction and extending in the front-back direction. A wire 3 with a terminal attached, inserted from behind the wire through holes 46, has its terminal 10 inserted into the terminal holding portion 31 of the resin retainer 30. Water is prevented by a seal 93 between the outer peripheral surface of the wire 2 (covered 2b) inserted into the wire through hole 46 of the tubular section 41 and the inner wall surface of the wire through hole 46. The seal 93 is held by a rear retainer 80 installed at the rear end of the tubular section 41.

[0031] The tubular portion 41 has a pair of extensions 42 and a pair of sidewall portions 43 integrally provided at its front end. The pair of extensions 42 extend outward in the left-right direction from each side of the front end, and the pair of sidewall portions 43 extend forward from each extension end of the pair of extensions 42. When viewed in the front-rear direction, each of the pair of sidewall portions 43 has a cylindrical portion 61 (see below) that is connected to the inner housing body 60. Figure 3 The shape corresponds to the periphery of the outer peripheral shape (cylindrical shape) and can be installed on the cylindrical part 61 in such a way as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the rear end of the cylindrical part 61.

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown, a pair of sidewall portions 43 are provided with bolt insertion portions 44 at multiple locations (four locations in this embodiment) on their outer peripheral surfaces (outer surfaces in the left-right direction). Each bolt insertion portion 44 is formed with a bolt through hole 45 extending in the front-back direction. A bolt (not shown) for assembling the charging socket 1 is inserted into the bolt through hole 45. The metal retainer 40 of the base retainer 50 is made of metal, and the resin retainer 30 is assembled from the front and is used to absorb and dissipate heat generated in the pair of terminals 10.

[0033] Next, the inner shell body 60 will be described. For example... Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the inner housing body 60 is assembled from the front between a pair of sidewall portions 43 of the base retainer 50, and defines a mating recess 63 for the charging port 1. The inner housing body 60 is a resin molded article and integrally includes a cylindrical portion 61 extending in the front-rear direction and a rear wall portion 62 that blocks the rear opening of the cylindrical portion 61. The cylindrical portion 61 and the rear wall portion 62 define a mating recess 63 that opens forward and is recessed rearward.

[0034] The rear wall portion 62 is provided with a pair of cylindrical female terminal receiving portions 64 corresponding to the terminal connecting portions 21 of a pair of terminals 10. The female terminal receiving portions 64 protrude forward. The female terminal receiving portions 64 are located in the mating recess 63 and have an internal space that extends through in the front-rear direction.

[0035] like Figure 3As shown, the cylindrical portion 61 has an annular flange 65 located at a position slightly behind the center in the front-rear direction on its outer peripheral surface. This flange 65 protrudes radially outward from the cylindrical portion 61. The flange 65 has bolt through holes 67 formed at multiple circumferential locations (four locations in this embodiment) that extend in the front-rear direction. These bolt through holes 67 correspond to the multiple bolt through holes 47 of the metal retainer 40. Screws 90 used for assembling the inner housing body 60 are inserted into the bolt through holes 67.

[0036] Next, the outer casing body 70 will be described. The outer casing body 70 is assembled from the front to the cylindrical portion 61 of the inner casing body 60, and together with the metal retainer 40, the entire casing 20 is secured to the mounting portion (not shown) of the charging port 1 provided in the vehicle. The outer casing body 70 is a resin molded article and includes a cylindrical portion 71 extending in the front-rear direction. The cylindrical portion 71 can be mounted from the front to the cylindrical portion 61 in such a way that it covers the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 61 of the inner casing body 60 (see [link to description]). Figures 1 to 3 ).

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, an annular flange 72 is provided at a position rear-central to the front-rear direction on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 71. The flange 72 protrudes outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 71. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the flange 72 has a rectangular outer peripheral shape. Each of the four corners of the flange 72 has a bolt through hole 73 extending in the front-rear direction. An assembly bolt (not shown) for fixing the charging socket 1 to the mounting object is inserted into the bolt through hole 73.

[0038] Next, a pair of terminals 10, which serve as connection terminals according to this embodiment, will be described. In this embodiment, the pair of terminals 10 have the same shape. The terminals 10 are made of metal and, as Figure 6 and 7 As shown, terminal 10 includes a terminal connection portion 21 on one end and a wire connection portion 23 on the other end. The terminal connection portion 21 is electrically connected to a mating terminal (male terminal), and the wire connection portion 23 is electrically connected to a wire 2. A retaining portion 22 held by housing 20 is provided between the terminal connection portion 21 and the wire connection portion 23.

[0039] The terminal connection portion 21 is a female terminal portion, which includes a small-diameter portion 11 and a plurality of elastic contact pieces 14 in front of the small-diameter portion 11. The plurality of elastic contact pieces 14 are formed in a generally cylindrical shape, and a mating terminal (male terminal) is inserted therein. The terminal connection portion 21 in this embodiment is not limited to a female terminal portion, but can also be a male terminal portion.

[0040] Thermistor 97 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 11 (see...) Figure 3Therefore, it is possible to measure the temperature of terminal 10 and monitor the temperature change of terminal 10 during use of charging port 1 (during battery use).

[0041] The wire connection portion 23 is a short, solid, cylindrical shape, and the conductor core 2a of the wire 2 is connected to the end face 23a by thermoforming. The end face 23a of the wire connection portion 23 may be provided with a recess, and the conductor core 2a exposed at one end of the wire 2 can be inserted and crimped.

[0042] The retaining portion 22 includes a stepped cylindrical portion comprising: a large-diameter portion 12 located behind the small-diameter portion 11; and an annular stepped portion 13 formed at the boundary between the small-diameter portion 11 and the large-diameter portion 12. The stepped portion 13 is locked to a locking protrusion 37 of the resin retainer 30 (see...). Figure 5 ).

[0043] like Figure 6 and 7 As shown, an annular groove 16 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 11 near the step portion 13, and an annular groove 17 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 12 near the step portion 13. A C-ring 91 for fixing the terminal (see...) Figure 4 and 5 The O-ring 92 is installed in the annular groove 16. Figure 4 and 5 It is installed in the annular groove 17.

[0044] When the large-diameter portion 12 is inserted into the terminal holding portion 31 of the resin retainer 30, the terminal 10 is held by the base retainer 50. That is, when the terminal 10, which is inserted from the rear of the wire through hole 46 in the metal retainer 40, is inserted into the terminal holding portion 31 of the resin retainer 30 from the rear side, the small-diameter portion 11 of the terminal 10 and the plurality of elastic contact pieces 14 protrude from the front end of the terminal holding portion 31 to the front side, and the stepped portion 13 of the terminal 10 is locked to the locking protrusion 37 of the terminal holding portion 31.

[0045] When the terminal 10 is inserted into the base retainer 50, as follows Figure 5 As shown, the C-ring 91 installed in the terminal 10 is locked to the locking protrusion 37, thereby preventing the terminal 10 from falling off the base retainer 50. In addition, the O-ring 92 installed in the terminal 10 is pressed and contacts the inner wall surface of the terminal retainer 31, so that waterproofing is achieved between the resin retainer 30 and the terminal 10 through the O-ring 92.

[0046] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the terminal 10 has at least a cylindrical sealing space 26 extending in the front-rear direction within the retaining portion 22. In this embodiment, the sealing space 26 is defined within a portion of the retaining portion 22 and the wire connection portion 23.

[0047] The cross-sectional area of ​​the retaining portion 22 of the sealing space 26 is defined to be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the plurality of elastic contact pieces 14 of the terminal connection portion 21. That is, the retaining portion 22 in the structure of the terminal 10 is a portion that can ensure a sufficient energized cross-sectional area and is sufficient to ensure the same heat capacity as the energized cross-sectional area of ​​the terminal connection portion 21. Therefore, even when the sealing space 26 is provided in the terminal 10 made of a metal such as copper or aluminum as a sensible heat storage material and the energized cross-sectional area is reduced, the thermal effect is considered to be slight.

[0048] The latent heat storage material 33 and the gas 35 are sealed within the sealed space 26. A sealing hole 29, communicating between the sealed space 26 and the outside of the terminal, is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the wire connection portion 23 and is blocked by the plug member 36. That is, after the latent heat storage material 33 and the gas 35 fill the sealed space 26 from the sealing hole 29, the sealing hole 29 is blocked by the plug member 36, thereby sealing the latent heat storage material 33 and the gas 35 within the sealed space 26. The plug member 36 can be fixed to the sealing hole 29 by various fixing methods such as press fit, threaded connection, and welding.

[0049] The latent heat storage material 33 is a material capable of temporarily absorbing heat by utilizing the latent heat during the phase change between a liquid and a solid. Examples of latent heat storage materials 33 include paraffin wax, sodium sulfate decahydrate, sodium acetate trihydrate, and vanadium dioxide. Gas 35 is a compressible gas corresponding to the latent heat storage material 33 in which the phase change between a liquid and a solid occurs within the sealed space 26, and can be nitrogen or air.

[0050] The terminal connection portion 21 of one of the terminals 10 serves as the anode-side terminal, and the terminal connection portion 21 of the other terminal 10 serves as the cathode-side terminal. When the charging port 1 mates with the mating connector, the terminal connection portion 21 of one terminal 10 and the terminal connection portion 21 of the other terminal 10 are respectively connected to the anode-side anode terminal portion and the cathode-side anode terminal portion of the mating connector.

[0051] Next, a molding example of the sealing space 26 and sealing hole 29 in the terminal 10 of this embodiment will be described. First, as Figure 8As shown, a one-piece molded article 10A forming a terminal 10 has a terminal connection portion 21 at one end and a wire connection portion 23 at the other end, and a retaining portion 22 between the terminal connection portion 21 and the wire connection portion 23. In the one-piece molded article 10A, a plurality of elastic contact pieces 14 and a small diameter portion 11 are cut into the terminal connection portion 21, and annular grooves 16 and 17, a large diameter portion 12 and a stepped portion 13 are cut into the retaining portion 22 (terminal cutting step).

[0052] Next, along the distance between the retaining part 22 and the wire connection part 23 Figure 8 The one-piece molded article 10A is cut open with a double-dotted line, and the one-piece molded article 10A is divided into a first part 24 integrally formed with a terminal connection portion 21 and a second part 25 integrally formed with a wire connection portion 23, as shown. Figure 9 The terminal cutting step is shown in the diagram.

[0053] A first recess 27 defining the sealing space 26 is drilled forward in the cutting surface 24a of the first component 24, and a second recess 28 defining the sealing space 26 is drilled backward in the cutting surface 25a of the second component 25, thereby forming a secondary molded article 10B (sealing space forming step).

[0054] Next, as Figure 10 As shown, a sealing hole 29 communicating with the second recess 28 is drilled on the outer peripheral surface of the second component 25, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the large-diameter portion 12 of the first component 24. Thus, a third molded article 10C (sealing hole forming step) is formed. Here, the sealing hole 29 is a through hole having the minimum size required for filling the latent heat storage material 33, and for example, a through hole having a size into which a filling nozzle for filling the latent heat storage material 33 into the sealing space 26 can be inserted.

[0055] Then, the cut surfaces 24a of the first component 24 and 25a of the second component 25 are abutted together and joined by, for example, thermoforming (heat pressure welding), thereby integrating the first component 24 and the second component 25 together (terminal joining step). Therefore, as... Figure 11 As shown, a four-part molded article 10D is formed, in which the sealing space 26 is defined by a first recess 27 of a first component 24 and a second recess 28 of a second component 25. Here, the cut surface 24a of the first component 24 and the cut surface 25a of the second component 25 are thermo-pressed welded joint surfaces 24b and 25b.

[0056] Next, as Figure 12As shown, latent heat storage material 33 is filled from the sealing hole 29 into the sealed space 26 of the quadruplicate 10D (heat storage material filling step). At this time, the sealed space 26 is not completely filled with latent heat storage material 33, and a portion of the space is reserved and filled with air as gas 35. Needless to say, a compressible gas such as nitrogen can be used instead of air.

[0057] Next, as Figure 13 As shown, the plug component 36 blocks the sealing hole 29 of the quadruped article 10D, in which the latent heat storage material 33 and gas 35 are filled in the sealing space 26 (a sealing step for sealing the sealing hole). The plug component 36 can be fixed to the sealing hole 29 by various fixing methods such as press fit, threaded connection and welding.

[0058] Thus, the operation of sealing the latent heat storage material 33 and the gas 35 in the sealed space 26 of the quadruped 10D was completed, and the terminal 10 was completed. The terminal 10 is formed by connecting the conductor core 2a of the wire 2 to the end face 23a of the wire connection portion 23 by thermoforming the wire 2 to form a wire 3 with a terminal.

[0059] Next, the function of the terminal 10 according to the above embodiment will be described. When the charging gun is assembled... Figure 1 When the charging port 1 shown is used, the charging current is supplied from an external charger to the battery installed in the vehicle through the charging gun and the charging port 1. In particular, when a large charging current is supplied to the battery from the external charger in order to shorten the charging time, heat may be generated at the contact between the mating terminal of the charging gun and the terminal 10 of the charging port 1.

[0060] At this time, in the terminal 10 of this embodiment, the latent heat storage material 33 and the gas 35 are sealed in the sealed space 26 defined in the holding part 22. The latent heat storage material 33 can temporarily absorb heat using the latent heat during the phase change between liquid and solid. That is, the latent heat storage material 33 absorbs the heat generated in the terminal 10. Therefore, rapid heating of the terminal 10 can be prevented. Since the latent heat storage material 33 absorbs heat, the heat transferred from the terminal 10 to the wire 2, housing 20, etc. can be reduced. For this reason, rapid heating of the wire 2, housing 20, etc. can also be prevented. The latent heat storage material 33 sealed in the sealed space 26 can achieve permanent effects and requires no maintenance.

[0061] In the terminal 10 of this embodiment, a sealing hole 29 having a minimum size required for filling the latent heat storage material 33 communicates with the outside of the sealing space 26 defined in the retaining portion 22. The minimum size required for filling the latent heat storage material 33 is, for example, the size into which a filling nozzle for filling the sealing space 26 with the latent heat storage material 33 can be inserted. The sealing hole 29 can be blocked by a plug member 36 having a minimum size corresponding to the size of the sealing hole 29.

[0062] Therefore, compared with the terminals in the prior art where the opening of the bottomed tubular outer casing body needs to be covered and welded, the terminal 10 in this embodiment has a sealing operation that makes it easy to seal the latent heat storage material 33 in the sealing space 26.

[0063] In the terminal 10 of this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of ​​the retaining portion 22, which defines the sealing space 26, is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the terminal connecting portion 21. The retaining portion 22 in the structure of the terminal 10 is such that it can ensure a sufficient energized cross-sectional area and is sufficient to ensure the same heat capacity as the energized cross-sectional area of ​​the terminal connecting portion 21. Therefore, even when the sealing space 26 is provided in the terminal 10 made of a metal such as copper or aluminum as a sensible heat storage material and the energized cross-sectional area is reduced, the thermal impact is slight.

[0064] Furthermore, in the terminal 10 of this embodiment, a first component 24 integrally formed with a terminal connection portion 21 and a second component 25 integrally formed with a wire connection portion 23 are joined together to form an integral unit, and a first recess 27 and a second recess 28 defining a sealing space 26 are respectively formed in the mating surface 24b of the first component 24 and the mating surface 25b of the second component 25. Therefore, a sealing space 26 with airtightness and capable of withstanding internal pressure changes can be easily defined in the holding portion 22 of the terminal 10.

[0065] Furthermore, in the terminal 10 of this embodiment, the sealing hole 29 is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the second component 25, which has a diameter smaller than that of the large-diameter portion 12 of the first component 24. Therefore, the sealing hole 29, which communicates with the second recess 28 of the second component 25, is a relatively short through hole, which facilitates the formation of the sealing hole 29. In addition, the sealing hole 29 is a through hole with the minimum size required to fill the latent heat storage material 33, and can be easily drilled.

[0066] According to one aspect of the above embodiments, the connection terminal (e.g., terminal 10) includes: a terminal connection portion (21) configured to be electrically connected to a mating terminal; a wire connection portion (23) configured to be electrically connected to a wire (2); a retaining portion (22) disposed between the terminal connection portion (21) and the wire connection portion (23) and configured to be retained by a housing (20); a sealing space (26) formed in the retaining portion (22); a latent heat storage material (33) and a gas (35) sealed in the sealing space (26); a sealing hole (29) communicating the sealing space (26) with a space outside the connection terminal; and a plug member (36) configured to block the sealing hole (29).

[0067] According to the connection terminal with the above-described structure, the latent heat storage material 33, sealed in the sealed space 26 defined in the retaining part 22, temporarily absorbs heat using latent heat generated during the phase change between liquid and solid. Therefore, the latent heat storage material (33) can absorb heat generated in the connection terminal (terminal 10) and prevent rapid heating of the connection terminal (terminal 10). A sealing hole (29) having the minimum size required for filling the latent heat storage material 33 (e.g., the size of a filling nozzle for filling the latent heat storage material) communicates the sealed space (26) with the outside of the terminal. The sealing hole 29 can be blocked by a plug member 36 having a minimum size corresponding to the size of the sealing hole 29. Therefore, compared to prior art terminals with bottomed tubular housings where the opening needs to be blocked by a cap and welded, the connection terminal (terminal 10) with this structure makes the sealing operation of sealing the latent heat storage material (33) in the sealed space (26) easy.

[0068] The cross-sectional area of ​​the retaining part (22) can be greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the terminal connection part (21).

[0069] With this construction, the retaining portion (22) in the structure of the connecting terminal (terminal 10) can ensure a sufficient energized cross-sectional area and can ensure the same heat capacity as the energized cross-sectional area of ​​the terminal connecting portion (21). Therefore, even when the sealing space (26) is set in the connecting terminal (terminal 10) made of a metal such as copper or aluminum as a sensible heat storage material and the energized cross-sectional area is reduced, the thermal impact is slight.

[0070] The connecting terminal (e.g., terminal 10) can be integrally formed by joining a first component (24) having an integrally formed terminal connection portion (21) and a second component (25) having an integrally formed wire connection portion (23). A first recess (27) can be formed in the mating surface (24b) of the first component (24) that engages with the second component (25), and a second recess (28) can be formed in the mating surface (25b) of the second component (25) that engages with the first component (24). The first recess 27 and the second recess 28 can together define a sealing space 26.

[0071] With this structure, a sealed space (26) that is airtight and can withstand changes in internal pressure can be easily defined in the holding part (22) of the connecting terminal (terminal 10).

[0072] The second component (25) may have a smaller diameter than the first component (24). The sealing hole (29) may be drilled in the outer peripheral surface of the second component (25).

[0073] With this construction, the sealing hole (29) communicating with the second recess (28) of the second component (25) is a relatively short through hole and is easy to form. In addition, the sealing hole (29) is a through hole with the minimum size required to fill the latent heat storage material (33) and is easy to drill.

Claims

1. A connection terminal capable of preventing temperature rise, comprising: A terminal connection portion configured to be electrically connected to a mating terminal; A wire connection portion configured to be electrically connected to a wire; A retaining part is disposed between the terminal connection part and the wire connection part, and is configured to be held by the housing; A sealing space is formed in the retaining portion; Latent heat storage material and gas, wherein the latent heat storage material and the gas are sealed in the sealed space; A sealing hole that allows the sealing space to communicate with the space outside the connecting terminal; as well as A plug component, which is fixed to the sealing hole and configured to block the sealing hole. The sealing hole is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the wire connection portion. The connection terminal includes a first component integrally formed with the terminal connection portion and a second component integrally formed with the wire connection portion. Wherein, a first recess is formed in the mating surface of the first component that engages with the second component, and a second recess is formed in the mating surface of the second component that engages with the first component, and, The first recess and the second recess together define the sealed space.

2. The connection terminal according to claim 1, in, The cross-sectional area of ​​the retaining part is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the terminal connection part.

3. The connection terminal according to claim 1, in, The second component has a smaller diameter than the first component, and The sealing hole is drilled in the outer peripheral surface of the second component.

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