Terminal assemblies and connectors

Abstract

This utility model discloses a terminal assembly and a connector. The terminal assembly includes: a terminal, including a contact portion and a tail portion; a cooling element, having a cooling channel that allows cooling medium to flow through and connected to the tail portion of the terminal; and a thermally conductive pad disposed between the cooling element and the terminal. The thermally conductive pad is used to transfer heat from the terminal to the cooling element, and the terminal is electrically isolated from the cooling element. In this utility model, the liquid cooling plate can quickly and efficiently cool the terminals of the connector, greatly improving the current carrying capacity of the connector without increasing the connector size, and expanding the application range of the connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a terminal assembly and a connector including the terminal assembly. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, power connectors typically consist of a housing and terminals housed within the housing. Due to limitations in size and heat generation, existing power connectors cannot handle excessively high currents, significantly restricting their applications. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this utility model is to solve at least one aspect of the aforementioned problems and defects existing in the prior art.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, a terminal assembly is provided. The terminal assembly includes: a terminal including a contact portion and a tail portion; a cooling member having a cooling channel allowing a cooling medium to flow through and connected to the tail portion of the terminal; and a thermally conductive pad disposed between the cooling member and the terminal. The thermally conductive pad is used to transfer heat from the terminal to the cooling member, and the terminal is electrically isolated from the cooling member.

[0005] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the contact portion of the terminal is a cantilever portion, the cantilever portion of the terminal is used for electrical contact with a mating terminal, and the tail portion of the terminal is used for electrical connection to an electrical transmission component.

[0006] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tail of the terminal is flat, and one side of the thermal pad is in thermal contact with the surface of the tail of the terminal or is bonded to the surface of the tail of the terminal by thermally conductive adhesive.

[0007] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the other side of the thermal pad is in thermal contact with the cooling element or is bonded to the cooling element by thermally conductive adhesive.

[0008] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the thermal pad is injection molded onto the cooling component, such that the thermal pad and the cooling component become a single unit.

[0009] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cooling channel of the cooling element has an inlet and an outlet to allow the cooling medium to flow into and out of the cooling element.

[0010] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal assembly further includes: an inlet pipe connector, installed on the inlet of the cooling element for connection to a cooling medium supply pipe; and an outlet pipe connector, installed on the outlet of the cooling element for connection to a cooling medium return pipe.

[0011] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cooling element is a liquid cooling plate, and the cooling medium is a coolant.

[0012] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal assembly further includes a stud, which is fixed to the tail of the terminal. The tail of the terminal is flat, the cooling element is located on one side of the tail of the terminal, and the stud is used to fasten the electrical transmission element to the other side of the tail of the terminal.

[0013] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal includes three terminal pieces stacked sequentially from its inner side to its outer side. The cantilever portions of the three terminal pieces are stacked together. The front end of the cantilever portion of the inner terminal piece has a first contact protrusion for electrical contact with a mating terminal. The front end of the cantilever portion of the middle terminal piece has a second contact protrusion for electrical contact with a mating terminal. The front end of the cantilever portion of the outer terminal piece abuts against the outer side of the front end of the middle terminal piece to increase the electrical contact force between the first contact protrusion and the second contact protrusion and the mating terminal.

[0014] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cantilever portion of the inner terminal piece includes a row of first elastic arms, and the cantilever portion of the middle terminal piece includes a row of second elastic arms, the second elastic arms abutting against the outer side of the first elastic arms; the first contact protrusion is formed on the end of the first elastic arm, the second contact protrusion is formed on the end of the second elastic arm, and the first contact protrusion and the second contact protrusion are alternately arranged in a row.

[0015] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal also has a fixing portion located between its cantilever portion and tail portion for fixing to the housing of the connector, wherein the fixing portions of the three terminal pieces are stacked and riveted together.

[0016] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fixing part of the terminal is L-shaped, including a first plate part and a second plate part that are vertically connected; and the cantilever part of the terminal is connected to the front side of the first plate part, and the tail part of the terminal is vertically connected to one side of the second plate part.

[0017] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the thermal pad is an insulating thermal pad, used to transfer the heat of the terminal to the cooling element and to electrically isolate the terminal from the cooling element.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector is provided. The connector includes: a housing having a front end and a rear end opposite each other in its longitudinal direction; and the aforementioned terminal assembly, mounted in the housing.

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector includes two terminal assemblies arranged side by side in the lateral direction of the housing, the housing having a partition wall located between the two terminal assemblies, the partition wall separating the two terminal assemblies.

[0020] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, longitudinally extending positioning grooves are formed at the top and bottom of the cooling component, and longitudinally extending positioning ribs are formed on the inner sides of the top and bottom walls of the housing, wherein the positioning ribs cooperate with the positioning grooves.

[0021] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the outer side of the tail of the terminal and the stud fixed to the tail protrude from the housing for electrical connection to an electrical transmission element.

[0022] In the foregoing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling plate can rapidly and efficiently cool the terminals of the connector, greatly improving the current carrying capacity of the connector without increasing the connector size and expanding the application range of the connector.

[0023] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will help to provide a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 An exploded view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0026] Figure 3 This diagram shows an exploded view of the terminal assembly of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewed from one side.

[0027] Figure 4 This diagram shows an exploded view of the terminal assembly of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the other side.

[0028] Figure 5 This diagram shows an exploded view of the cooling element and thermal pad of the terminal assembly of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 6 Showing a cross-sectional view of the cooling element and thermal pad of the terminal assembly of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 7 This shows a cross-sectional view of the cooling element of the terminal assembly of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described in detail below through embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar components. The following description of the embodiments of this utility model with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the overall inventive concept of this utility model and should not be construed as a limitation thereof.

[0032] Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth for ease of explanation to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and apparatuses are illustrated to simplify the figures.

[0033] According to a general technical concept of this utility model, a terminal assembly is provided. The terminal assembly includes: a terminal including a contact portion and a tail portion; a cooling member having a cooling channel that allows a cooling medium to flow through and connected to the tail portion of the terminal; and a thermally conductive pad disposed between the cooling member and the terminal. The thermally conductive pad is used to transfer heat from the terminal to the cooling member, and the terminal is electrically isolated from the cooling member.

[0034] According to another general technical concept of the present invention, a connector is provided. The connector includes: a housing having a front end and a rear end opposite each other in its longitudinal direction; and the aforementioned terminal assembly, mounted in the housing.

[0035] Figure 1 A perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 2 An exploded view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 3 This diagram shows an exploded view of the terminal assembly 100 of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewed from one side. Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the terminal assembly 100 of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the other side. Figure 5 An exploded view of the cooling element 2 and the thermal pad 3 of the terminal assembly 100 of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0036] Figure 6 Showing a cross-sectional view of the cooling element 2 and the thermal pad 3 of the terminal assembly 100 of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This shows a cross-sectional view of the cooling element 2 of the terminal assembly 100 of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of this utility model, a terminal assembly 100 is disclosed. The terminal assembly 100 includes: a terminal 1, a cooling element 2, and a thermal pad 3. The terminal 1 includes a contact portion and a tail portion 12. The cooling element 2 forms a cooling channel 20 that allows cooling medium to flow through and is connected to the tail portion 12 of the terminal 1. The thermal pad 3 is disposed between the cooling element 2 and the terminal 1. The thermal pad 3 is used to transfer heat from the terminal 1 to the cooling element 2, and the terminal 1 and the cooling element 2 are electrically isolated.

[0038] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the liquid cooling plate 2 can quickly and efficiently cool the terminals 1 of the connector, which can greatly improve the current carrying capacity of the connector without increasing the size of the connector and expand the application range of the connector.

[0039] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, terminal 1 has a cantilever portion 11 at its front and a tail portion 12 at its rear. The cantilever portion 11 of terminal 1 serves as a contact portion for electrical contact with a mating terminal (not shown), and the tail portion 12 of terminal 1 is used for electrical connection to an electrical transmission element (not shown, such as a bus or wire).

[0040] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the tail 12 of terminal 1 is flat, and one side of the thermal pad 3 is in thermal contact with the surface of the tail 12 of terminal 1 or is bonded to the surface of the tail 12 of terminal 1 by thermally conductive adhesive.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the other side of the thermal pad 3 is in thermal contact with the cooling element 2 or is bonded to the cooling element 2 by thermally conductive adhesive.

[0042] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the thermal pad 3 can be injection molded onto the cooling component 2, so that the thermal pad 3 and the cooling component 2 become a single piece.

[0043] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the cooling channel 20 of the cooling element 2 has an inlet 201 and an outlet 202 to allow the cooling medium to flow into the cooling element 2 from the inlet 201 and out of the cooling element 2 from the outlet 202.

[0044] like Figures 1 to 7As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the terminal assembly 100 further includes an inlet pipe connector 21 and an outlet pipe connector 22. The inlet pipe connector 21 is installed on the inlet 201 of the cooling component 2 for connection to a cooling medium supply pipe. The outlet pipe connector 22 is installed on the outlet 202 of the cooling component 2 for connection to a cooling medium return pipe.

[0045] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the cooling component 2 is a liquid cooling plate, and the cooling medium is coolant.

[0046] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the thermal pad 3 can be an insulating thermal pad used to transfer heat from the terminal 1 to the cooling element 2 and to electrically isolate the terminal 1 from the cooling element 2.

[0047] However, this utility model is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figure. For example, when the cooling element 2 is an insulating material or the cooling medium is an insulating medium, the thermal pad 3 may also be conductive.

[0048] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the terminal assembly 100 further includes a stud 4, which is fixed to the tail 12 of the terminal 1, for example, by welding or riveting. The tail 12 of the terminal 1 is flat, and the cooling element 2 is located on one side of the tail 12 of the terminal 1. The stud 4 can cooperate with a nut (not shown) to fasten the electrical transmission element to the other side of the tail 12 of the terminal 1.

[0049] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, terminal 1 includes three terminal pieces 1', 1”, 1”' stacked sequentially from its inner side to its outer side, with cantilever portions 11 of the three terminal pieces 1', 1”, 1”' stacked together. The front end of the cantilever portion 11 of the inner terminal piece 1' has a first contact protrusion 111a for electrical contact with the mating terminal, the front end of the cantilever portion 11 of the middle terminal piece 1” has a second contact protrusion 112a for electrical contact with the mating terminal, and the front end of the cantilever portion 11 of the outer terminal piece 1”' abuts against the outer side of the front end of the middle terminal piece 1”, thereby increasing the electrical contact force between the first contact protrusion 111a and the second contact protrusion 112a and the mating terminal.

[0050] like Figures 1 to 7As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the cantilever portion 11 of the inner terminal piece 1' includes a row of first elastic arms 111, and the cantilever portion 11 of the middle terminal piece 1" includes a row of second elastic arms 112, with the second elastic arms 112 abutting against the outer side of the first elastic arms 111. A first contact protrusion 111a is formed on the end of the first elastic arm 111, and a second contact protrusion 112a is formed on the end of the second elastic arm 112. The first contact protrusion 111a and the second contact protrusion 112a are arranged alternately in a row in the height direction Z.

[0051] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, terminal 1 also has a fixing part 13 located between its cantilever portion 11 and tail portion 12 for fixing to the housing 5 of the connector, and the fixing parts 13 of the three terminal pieces 1', 1”, 1”' are stacked and riveted together.

[0052] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the fixing portion 13 of terminal 1 is L-shaped and includes a first plate portion 131 and a second plate portion 132 that are vertically connected. The cantilever portion 11 of terminal 1 is connected to the front side of the first plate portion 131, and the tail portion 12 of terminal 1 is vertically connected to one side of the second plate portion 132.

[0053] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a connector is also disclosed. The connector includes a housing 5 and a terminal assembly 100. The housing 5 has a front end and a rear end opposite each other in its longitudinal Y direction. The terminal assembly 100 is mounted within the housing 5.

[0054] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector includes two terminal assemblies 100 arranged side by side in the transverse X direction of the housing 5, the housing 5 having a partition wall 51 located between the two terminal assemblies 100, the partition wall 51 separating the two terminal assemblies 100.

[0055] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, longitudinally Y-extending positioning grooves 2a are formed at the top and bottom of the cooling component 2, and longitudinally Y-extending positioning ribs 5a are formed on the inner sides of the top and bottom walls of the housing 5, respectively, and the positioning ribs 5a cooperate with the positioning grooves 2a.

[0056] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer side of the tail 12 of the terminal 1 and the stud 4 fixed to the tail 12 protrude from the housing 5 for electrical connection to the electrical transmission element.

[0057] Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described above are exemplary and can be improved upon. The structures described in the various embodiments can be freely combined without causing structural or principle conflicts, and these changes should fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0058] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation thereof.

[0059] While some embodiments of the general concept of this utility model have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general concept of this utility model, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

[0060] It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the words "a" or "an" do not exclude multiple elements. Furthermore, any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A terminal assembly, characterized in that, include: Terminal (1), including a contact portion and a tail portion (12); Cooling element (2) having a cooling channel (20) that allows cooling medium to flow through and connected to the tail (12) of terminal (1); and A thermal pad (3) is disposed between the cooling element (2) and the terminal (1). The thermal pad (3) is used to transfer the heat of the terminal (1) to the cooling element (2), and the terminal (1) is electrically isolated from the cooling element (2).

2. The terminal assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The contact portion of the terminal (1) is a cantilever portion (11), which is used to make electrical contact with the mating terminal, and the tail portion (12) of the terminal (1) is used to make electrical connection to the electrical transmission component.

3. The terminal assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The tail (12) of the terminal (1) is flat, and one side of the thermal pad (3) is in thermal contact with the surface of the tail (12) of the terminal (1) or is bonded to the surface of the tail (12) of the terminal (1) by thermal adhesive.

4. The terminal assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The other side of the thermal pad (3) is in thermal contact with the cooling component (2) or is bonded to the cooling component (2) by thermal adhesive.

5. The terminal assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermal pad (3) is injection molded onto the cooling component (2), making the thermal pad (3) and the cooling component (2) a single unit.

6. The terminal assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cooling channel (20) of the cooling element (2) has an inlet (201) and an outlet (202) to allow the cooling medium to flow into and out of the cooling element (2).

7. The terminal assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, Also includes: An inlet pipe connector (21) is installed on the inlet (201) of the cooling component (2) for connection to the cooling medium supply pipe; and An outlet pipe connector (22) is installed on the outlet (202) of the cooling component (2) for connection to the cooling medium return pipe.

8. The terminal assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cooling component (2) is a liquid cooling plate, and the cooling medium is a coolant.

9. The terminal assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: The stud (4) is fixed to the tail (12) of the terminal (1). The tail (12) of the terminal (1) is flat, the cooling element (2) is located on one side of the tail (12) of the terminal (1), and the stud (4) is used to fasten the electrical transmission element to the other side of the tail (12) of the terminal (1).

10. The terminal assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The terminal (1) includes three terminal pieces (1', 1”, 1”') stacked sequentially from its inner side to its outer side. The cantilever portions (11) of the three terminal pieces (1', 1”, 1”') are stacked together. The front end of the cantilever portion (11) of the inner terminal piece (1') has a first contact protrusion (111a) for electrical contact with the mating terminal. The front end of the cantilever portion (11) of the middle terminal piece (1”) has a second contact protrusion (112a) for electrical contact with the mating terminal. The front end of the cantilever portion (11) of the outer terminal piece (1”') abuts against the outer side of the front end of the middle terminal piece (1”) to increase the electrical contact force between the first contact protrusion (111a) and the second contact protrusion (112a) and the mating terminal.

11. The terminal assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that: The cantilever portion (11) of the inner terminal piece (1') includes a row of first elastic arms (111), and the cantilever portion (11) of the middle terminal piece (1") includes a row of second elastic arms (112), with the second elastic arms (112) abutting against the outer side of the first elastic arms (111). The first contact protrusion (111a) is formed on the end of the first elastic arm (111), and the second contact protrusion (112a) is formed on the end of the second elastic arm (112). The first contact protrusion (111a) and the second contact protrusion (112a) are arranged alternately in a row.

12. The terminal assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that: The terminal (1) also has a fixing part (13) located between its cantilever (11) and tail (12) for fixing to the housing (5) of the connector, wherein the fixing parts (13) of the three terminal pieces (1', 1”, 1”') are stacked and riveted together.

13. The terminal assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that: The fixing part (13) of the terminal (1) is L-shaped, including a first plate part (131) and a second plate part (132) that are vertically connected; and The cantilever portion (11) of the terminal (1) is connected to the front side of the first plate portion (131), and the tail portion (12) of the terminal (1) is perpendicularly connected to one side of the second plate portion (132).

14. The terminal assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermal pad (3) is an insulating thermal pad used to transfer the heat of the terminal (1) to the cooling element (2) and to electrically isolate the terminal (1) from the cooling element (2).

15. A connector, characterized in that, include: The housing (5) has a front end and a rear end opposite each other in its longitudinal direction (Y); and The terminal assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1-14 is installed in the housing (5).

16. The connector according to claim 15, characterized in that: The connector includes two terminal assemblies (100) arranged side by side in the transverse (X) direction of the housing (5), the housing (5) having a partition wall (51) located between the two terminal assemblies (100) and separating the two terminal assemblies (100).

17. The connector according to claim 15, characterized in that: Longitudinal (Y) extending positioning grooves (2a) are formed at the top and bottom of the cooling component (2), and longitudinal (Y) extending positioning ribs (5a) are formed on the inner sides of the top and bottom walls of the housing (5), and the positioning ribs (5a) cooperate with the positioning grooves (2a).

18. The connector according to claim 15, characterized in that: The outer side of the tail (12) of the terminal (1) and the stud (4) fixed to the tail (12) protrude from the housing (5) for electrical connection to the electrical transmission element.

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