Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can efficiently dissipate heat generated during electrical connection in an electric wire, to the outside of the connector.SOLUTION: A connector 1 connected to an external connector includes: a plurality of terminals 10; a plurality of electric wires 100 connected for each terminal 10; a non-metal housing for hosing the terminals 10 and the electric wires 100; and a metal shield member that covers at least a part of an outer surface of the housing. The housing includes a penetration section 46 that penetrates the housing from the inside to the outside. The shield member includes a heat dissipation section 82 that penetrates through the penetration section 46 formed in the housing and extends toward the inside of the housing. For example, the penetration section 46 is formed in a cover housing 40, and the heat dissipation section 82 is formed in an upper shell 80 as a shield member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a connector including a plurality of terminals, a plurality of electric wires connected to each terminal, a non-metallic housing for housing the terminals and the electric wires, and a metallic shield member covering at least a part of the outer surface of the housing is known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a connector including a synthetic resin housing, connection terminals housed in the housing, current-carrying conductors connected to the ends of electric wires and housed in the housing, and a metallic shield shell covering the housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the housing has a first housing recess for housing a metallic first fastening member for fastening the connection terminals and the current-carrying conductors, and a second housing recess for housing a metallic second fastening member for fastening the housing and the shield shell. Further, the first housing recess and the second housing recess are adjacent to each other with a common resin wall therebetween. In such a connector, heat generated by the connection terminals or the current-carrying conductors due to energization is transferred from the first fastening member through the resin wall to the second fastening member and dissipated to the shield shell. Heat dissipation through the resin may have a lower thermal conductivity compared to the case of metal. Therefore, there is room for improving the heat dissipation performance of the connector by efficiently dissipating the heat generated during energization in the electric wire to the outside of the connector.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of such conventional technologies. And an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated during energization in an electric wire to the outside of the connector.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A connector according to an aspect of the present invention is a connector connected to an external connector, and includes a plurality of terminals, a plurality of electric wires connected to each terminal, a non-metallic housing that houses the terminals and the electric wires, and a metallic shield member that covers at least a part of the outer surface of the housing. The housing has a through portion that penetrates the inside and outside of the housing, and the shield member has a heat dissipation portion that penetrates the through portion provided in the housing and extends into the internal space of the housing.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated during energization in an electric wire to the outside of the connector.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may be different from the actual ratios.

[0011] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector 1 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1 cut along line III-III of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1 cut along line IV-IV of FIG. 3. The connector 1 is, for example, a high-voltage connector that can be adopted in a power supply system of an electronic device such as an inverter or a motor mounted on an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. In the present embodiment, the connector 1 is attached to, for example, a power supply system of a two-phase motor (not shown) as a motor.

[0012] As a power supply system of the two-phase motor, there are two electric wires 100, namely, a first electric wire 100a and a second electric wire 100b, in advance. Each electric wire 100 has a core wire 101 which is a conductor and a covering portion 102 which is an insulator covering the core wire 101. One terminal of the electric wire 100 is connected to the two-phase motor, and the other terminal of the electric wire 100 is connected to the connector 1. Note that the electric wire 100 may actually have a core wire 101 composed of a plurality of strands and a covering portion 102, but in the following drawings, it is simply drawn as one electric wire member.

[0013] The connector 1 first includes, as a group of components related to electrical connection, a plurality of terminals 10, an inner housing 20, an outer housing 30, and a cover housing 40. In the present embodiment, a combination of the inner housing 20, the outer housing 30, and the cover housing 40 constitutes a non-metallic housing that houses the terminals 10 and the electric wires 100.

[0014] In each electric wire 100, at the terminal on the side connected to the connector 1, the covering portion 102 is removed, and the terminal portion 101a of the core wire 101 is exposed.

[0015] In this embodiment, as the plurality of terminals 10, corresponding to a two-phase motor, there are two terminals 10, i.e., a first terminal 10a and a second terminal 10b. The first terminal 10a is attached to the terminal of the first electric wire 100a. The second terminal 10b is attached to the terminal of the second electric wire 100b.

[0016] The two terminals 10 are each a female terminal made of metal and have a connection portion 11 and a joining portion 12. These two terminals 10 may have the same shape as each other or may have different shapes from each other.

[0017] The connection portion 11 is a cylindrical portion into which a rod-shaped male terminal as an external terminal of an external connector can be inserted. The connection portion 11 has a leaf spring portion that presses a part of the male terminal against the inner wall portion of the connection portion 11 in order to stably maintain the conduction state with the inserted male terminal. The leaf spring portion may be a part integrated with the connection portion 11 or may be a separately prepared leaf spring member installed inside the connection portion 11 in advance.

[0018] The joining portion 12 is a flat plate portion for joining the terminal portion 101a of the core wire 101. Assuming that one end in the axial direction of the connection portion 11 is an open end for inserting the male terminal, the joining portion 12 is integrated with the other end in the axial direction of the connection portion 11. In this embodiment, the joining portion 12 joins the terminal portion 101a of the core wire 101 by ultrasonic welding. Also, in this embodiment, the axial direction of the connection portion 11 when the terminal 10 is installed in the connector 1 is along the Z direction.

[0019] Also, for each terminal 10, the direction from the joint portion 12 toward the connection portion 11 along the axial direction of the connection portion 11 and the direction from the terminal portion 101a crimped to the joint portion 12 toward the main body of the electric wire 100 are shifted by 90°. That is, when the terminal 10 is installed in the connector 1 and the axial direction of the connection portion 11 is along the Z direction, the terminal portion 101a is crimped in a posture along the Y direction with respect to the joint portion 12. At this time, each electric wire 100 will extend in a direction opposite to the Y direction from the terminal portion 101a starting from the terminal portion 101a crimped to the joint portion 12.

[0020] Note that the specific shape of the joint portion 12 may be different for every two terminals 10. Also, in this embodiment, the terminal 10 is assumed to have a flat joint portion 12 that joints the terminal portion 101a by ultrasonic welding. However, instead of the joint portion 12, it may have a crimping portion to which the terminal portion 101a is crimped.

[0021] The inner housing 20 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and is an insulating member that protects the terminals 10 by holding the two terminals 10 inside. The inner housing 20 has a first terminal accommodating portion 21, a second terminal accommodating portion 22, a base portion 24, and a reinforcing structure portion 25.

[0022] The first terminal accommodating portion 21 is a cylindrical portion that accommodates the connection portion 11 of the first terminal 10a. The second terminal accommodating portion 22 is a cylindrical portion that accommodates the connection portion 11 of the second terminal 10b. The first terminal accommodating portion 21 and the second terminal accommodating portion 22 accommodate the connection portion 11 so that the opening direction of the connection portion 11 to be accommodated inside, that is, the direction opposite to the direction in which the male terminal is inserted, is common along the Z direction. The tip of each of the first terminal accommodating portion 21 and the second terminal accommodating portion 22 opens in the Z direction and does not hinder the entry of the male terminal into the connection portion 11.

[0023] Further, the first terminal accommodating portion 21 and the second terminal accommodating portion 22 are arranged in parallel along the X direction defined below as an example. Note that the first terminal accommodating portion 21 and the second terminal accommodating portion 22 may be arranged in two stages along the Y direction defined below. In this case, for example, the first terminal accommodating portion 21 may be arranged in the lower stage in the Y direction, and the second terminal accommodating portion 22 may be arranged in the upper stage in the Y direction.

[0024] The base portion 24 is a flat plate portion that supports the first terminal accommodating portion 21 and the second terminal accommodating portion 22. The base portion 24 has a front portion 24a and a rear portion 24b on the side opposite to the front portion 24a. The front portion 24a supports the root ends of the first terminal accommodating portion 21 and the second terminal accommodating portion 22 respectively. The internal spaces of the first terminal accommodating portion 21 and the second terminal accommodating portion 22 are open from the rear portion 24b in the direction opposite to the Z direction.

[0025] The reinforcing structure portion 25 is a structure composed of reinforcing ribs in order to ensure the strength of the inner housing 20. The reinforcing structure portion 25 is provided on the rear portion 24b side of the base portion 24 so as not to obstruct the arrangement of each terminal 10 and each electric wire 100.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the outer housing 30 in which the terminals 10 and the electric wires 100 are arranged. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the outer housing 30 in the present embodiment.

[0027] The outer housing 30 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, and is an insulating member that protects the whole of the two terminals 10 by accommodating at least a part of the inner housing 20 and the joint portions 12 of the respective terminals 10. The outer housing 30 has a housing main body portion 31, a connector end face portion 32, and an electric wire lead-out portion 33.

[0028] When the housing main body 31 has the Z direction (first direction) as the length direction, the Y direction (second direction) orthogonal to the Z direction is defined as the height direction, and the X direction (third direction) orthogonal to both the Z direction and the Y direction is defined as the width direction. The housing main body 31 includes a front wall 34, an annular side wall 35, and a plurality of support pieces 36.

[0029] The front wall 34 is a wall portion orthogonal to the Z direction, and supports the connector frontage portion 32 and the wire lead-out portion 33 so as to be separated from each other in the Y direction. The planar shape of the front wall 34 is a substantially rectangle defined by a long side approximately along the Y direction and a short side approximately along the X direction. Further, on the wall surface of the front wall 34 facing the inside of the housing main body 31, a first wire contact portion 37 is provided so as to face while being separated from the second wire contact portion 45 when a cover housing 40 described later is attached to the outer housing 30. The shape of the first wire contact portion 37 is approximately symmetric with the shape of the second wire contact portion 45 in the Z direction.

[0030] The first wire contact portions 37 each have a first contact groove 37a including a curved surface that matches the side surface shape of each wire 100 routed inside the housing main body 31 with the Y direction as the extending direction. The first contact groove 37a contacts while accommodating a part of the side surface of each wire 100. Further, a plurality of first protrusions 38 are respectively formed so as to protrude from the first contact groove 37a of the first wire contact portion 37. Furthermore, each of the first contact grooves 37a has a pair of side wall portions 37c, 37d in the X direction. In the present embodiment, the height of the side wall portion 37c on the inner side in the X direction (inner side in the width direction) of the pair of side wall portions 37c, 37d from the front wall 34 is higher than the height of the side wall portion 37d on the outer side in the X direction (outer side in the width direction) from the front wall 34 (see FIG. 4).

[0031] The annular side wall 35, together with the front wall 34, forms an internal space that houses at least the joint portion 12 of each terminal 10. One annular end of the annular side wall 35 in the Z direction is continuous with the peripheral edge of the front wall 34. The other annular end of the annular side wall 35 in the Z direction is an open end 35a that forms an opening facing the front wall 34. When assembling the connector 1, the two terminals 10, each attached to the end of the electric wire 100, are housed inside the housing main body 31 through the opening formed by the open end 35a.

[0032] The support piece 36 is provided on the outer wall surface 35b of the annular side wall 35 and has a fitting hole 36a for fitting an annular collar (not shown). The fitting hole 36a penetrates the support piece 36 along the Z direction.

[0033] The connector frontage portion 32 has a frontage 32a with a vertically elongated oval cross-section that opens in the Z direction, and is a cylindrical portion that fits with a part of an external connector (not shown) having a male terminal when the external connector is connected to the connector 1. The connector frontage portion 32 is provided so as to protrude in the Z direction from the front wall 34 of the housing main body 31. The frontage 32a penetrates between the outside of the outer housing 30 and the inside of the housing main body 31, and can accommodate the inner housing 20. In the vertically elongated oval cross-section of the frontage 32a, the X direction is the longitudinal direction in accordance with the arrangement relationship of the first terminal accommodating portion 21 and the second terminal accommodating portion 22 in the inner housing 20.

[0034] The wire lead-out portion 33 is a cylindrical portion for leading out two electric wires 100 from the inside of the housing main body 31 to the outside of the outer housing 30 through a through-space with a vertically elongated oval cross-section that opens in the Z direction. The wire lead-out portion 33 is provided so as to protrude in the Z direction from the front wall 34 of the housing main body 31. In the vertically elongated oval cross-section of the through-space, the X direction is the longitudinal direction so that the two electric wires 100 are arranged side by side in the X direction in accordance with the arrangement relationship of the first terminal accommodating portion 21 and the second terminal accommodating portion 22 in the inner housing 20.

[0035] That is, according to the structure of the outer housing 30, in the connector 1, the direction in which the frontage 32a of the connector frontage portion 32 faces, that is, the direction of connection to the external connector, and the direction in which the two electric wires 100 are drawn out from the wire leading-out portion 33 are along the same direction as each other. In the present embodiment, the direction in which the frontage 32a of the connector frontage portion 32 faces and the direction in which the two electric wires 100 are drawn out from the wire leading-out portion 33 are along each other in the Z direction.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover housing 40 in the present embodiment as viewed from the side opposite to FIG. 2.

[0037] The cover housing 40 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. This cover housing 40 is an insulating member that covers an opening formed by an opening end 35a in a state where each terminal 10 having a terminal portion 101a joined to the joining portion 12 is housed together with the terminal portion of the electric wire 100 inside the housing main body portion 31 of the outer housing 30. The cover housing 40 has a main body wall 41, a plurality of locking portions 42, a packing mounting portion 43, a cover reinforcing rib 44, a second electric wire contact portion 45, a through portion 46, and a plurality of cylindrical boss portions 47.

[0038] The main body wall 41 is a flat plate portion having an outer peripheral edge 41a along the opening end 35a of the housing main body portion 31 when the cover housing 40 is attached to the outer housing 30. The inner wall surface 41b of the main body wall 41 faces the front wall 34 of the housing main body portion 31 when the cover housing 40 is attached to the outer housing 30.

[0039] The plurality of locking portions 42 are respectively provided on the outer peripheral edge 41a of the main body wall 41 at intervals from each other in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral edge 41a. A plurality of engaging portions 39a are provided on the outer surface portion of the annular side wall 35 of the housing main body portion 31. Each locking portion 42 suppresses the detachment of the cover housing 40 from the outer housing 30 by engaging with the engaging portion 39a on the annular side wall 35 when the cover housing 40 is attached to the outer housing 30.

[0040] The packing mounting portion 43 is a cylindrical portion to which a cover packing 61, which will be described later, can be mounted. The cover packing 61 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the packing mounting portion 43, whereby the cover packing 61 is held in the cover housing 40.

[0041] In order to ensure the strength of the cover housing 40, the cover reinforcing rib 44 is provided on the inner wall surface 41b so as not to interfere with the arrangement of the terminals 10 and the wires 100.

[0042] The second wire contact portions 45 are provided on the inner wall surface 41b and come into contact with the respective electric wires 100 when the cover housing 40 is attached to the outer housing 30. Each second wire contact portion 45 extends in the Y direction and has a second contact groove 45b including a curved surface that matches the side shape of each electric wire 100 routed inside the housing main body 31. The second contact groove 45b comes into contact with while accommodating a portion of the side surface of each electric wire 100. Each second contact groove 45b of the second wire contact portion 45 is formed with a plurality of second protrusions 48 that protrude. Each second contact groove 45b further has a pair of side wall portions 45c, 45d in the X direction. In this embodiment, the height of the side wall 45d on the outer side in the X direction (outer side in the width direction) of the pair of side wall portions 45c, 45d from the front wall 34 is slightly higher than the height of the side wall 45c on the inner side in the X direction (inner side in the width direction) from the front wall 34 (see Figure 4).

[0043] Here, when the cover housing 40 is attached to the outer housing 30, the second contact grooves 45b sandwich the electric wires 100 together with the equivalent first contact grooves 37a provided in the housing main body 31. In other words, the second wire contact portions 45, in combination with the first wire contact portions 37 in the housing main body 31, hold the respective electric wires 100, thereby forming an electric wire holding portion that prevents vibrations transmitted from the outside through the electric wires 100 from reaching the terminals 10.

[0044] The through-hole portion 46 is provided adjacent to the second wire contact portion 45 on the inner wall surface 41b. The through-hole portion 46 has two through-holes 46a arranged in parallel along the X direction. The two through-holes 46a are each formed as a stepped hole (counterbore hole) including a large-diameter hole 46b and a small-diameter hole 46c. Each through-hole 46a individually penetrates a heat dissipation protrusion 83 provided on an upper shell 80 described later during the assembly of the connector 1.

[0045] Two boss portions 47 are provided on the inner wall surface 41b and have hole portions 47a extending in the Z direction (see FIG. 2). The two boss portions 47 are arranged in parallel along the X direction, for example. Each boss portion 47 is individually inserted into a through-hole 80i provided on an upper shell 80 described later during the assembly of the connector 1.

[0046] Further, the connector 1 includes a unit packing 60, a cover packing 61, a wire packing 62, and a shield packing 63 as waterproof members for suppressing the intrusion of moisture from the outside into the inside of the outer housing 30.

[0047] The unit packing 60 is an annular elastic member tightly attached to the outer peripheral surface of the connector mating end portion 32 in the outer housing 30. The unit packing 60 seals between the outer peripheral surface of the connector mating end portion 32 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 71 of the case 70 when the case 70 having the cylindrical portion 71 is connected to the connector 1.

[0048] The cover packing 61 is an annular elastic member tightly attached to the open end 35a of the housing main body portion 31 in the outer housing 30 (see FIG. 3). The cover packing 61 seals between the open end 35a of the housing main body portion 31 and the outer peripheral edge 41a of the cover housing 40 when the cover housing 40 is attached to the outer housing 30.

[0049] The wire packing 62 is an elastic member in the shape of an oblong flat plate that is closely attached to the inner wall surface of the wire lead-out portion 33 in the outer housing 30. Further, the wire packing 62 has two through holes 62a that penetrate individually while being in close contact with each wire 100. The wire packing 62 seals the space between the inner wall surface of the wire lead-out portion 33 and each wire 100 that penetrates the through space of the wire lead-out portion 33.

[0050] The shield packing 63 is an annular elastic member that is closely attached to the inner peripheral surface of the through portion 46 in the cover housing 40. When the upper shell 80 described later is attached to the outer housing 30, the shield packing 63 seals the space between the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 46a of the cover housing 40 and the outer peripheral surface of the heat dissipation protrusion 83 of the upper shell 80.

[0051] Also, the connector 1 includes a packing holder 75 as a holding member for various packings.

[0052] The packing holder 75 is made of synthetic resin and is attached to the outer housing 30 in order to prevent the wire packing 62 from falling off from the wire lead-out portion 33. The packing holder 75 has two through holes 62a that penetrate each wire 100 individually, and is an oblong flat plate-shaped member similar to the shape of the wire packing 62. The packing holder 75 has a plurality of locking portions 76. A plurality of engaging portions 39b are provided on the outer surface portion of the wire lead-out portion 33 of the housing main body portion 31. When the packing holder 75 is attached to the outer housing 30, each locking portion 76 engages with the engaging portion 39b in the wire lead-out portion 33, so that the wire packing 62 is supported by the wire lead-out portion 33. Thereby, the packing holder 75 prevents the wire packing 62 from falling off from the wire lead-out portion 33.

[0053] Also, the connector 1 includes an upper shell 80 and a lower shell 81 as shield members for shielding noise.

[0054] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the upper shell 80 in the present embodiment as viewed from the side opposite to FIG. 2.

[0055] The upper shell 80 is made of metal and covers the housing main body 31 with the cover housing 40 in the outer housing 30 attached thereto. Note that the upper shell 80 may cover at least a part of the connector end face portion 32 or the wire lead-out portion 33 of the outer housing 30 while accommodating the housing main body 31. The upper shell 80 is a box portion defined with the Z direction (first direction) as the length direction, the Y direction (second direction) as the height direction, and the X direction (third direction) as the width direction. The upper shell 80 includes a bottom wall 80a, an annular side wall 80b, a plurality of support portions 80e, a plurality of support pieces 80g, and a heat radiating portion 82.

[0056] The bottom wall 80a is a wall portion orthogonal to the Z direction. The planar shape of the bottom wall 80a is a substantially rectangular shape defined by a long side approximately along the Y direction and a short side approximately along the X direction. Through holes 80i are formed in the bottom wall 80a, for example, arranged in parallel along the X direction. Each through hole 80i individually penetrates a boss portion 47 provided in the cover housing 40 during the assembly of the connector 1.

[0057] The annular side wall 80b and the bottom wall 80a together form an internal space for accommodating the housing main body 31. One annular end of the annular side wall 80b in the Z direction is continuous with the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 80a. The other annular end of the annular side wall 80b in the Z direction is an open end 80c that forms an opening facing the bottom wall 80a. During the assembly of the connector 1, the housing main body  31 with the cover housing 40 attached thereto is accommodated through the opening formed at the open end 80c.

[0058] Two support portions 80e are provided, for example, as portions integrally formed continuously with the annular side wall 80b, and have fastening holes 80f for fastening bolts (not shown) that penetrate fitting holes 36a provided in the outer housing 30 during the assembly of the connector 1.

[0059] The support piece 80g is provided, for example, as a part integrally formed continuously with the annular side wall 80b, and has a through hole 80h through which a mounting bolt (not shown) is passed when the connector 1 is attached to the housing of the external connector.

[0060] The heat dissipation part 82 is provided on the bottom wall 80a corresponding to the positions of the two electric wires 100 accommodated in the outer housing 30. The heat dissipation part 82 has two heat dissipation protrusions 83 arranged in parallel along the X direction. The two heat dissipation protrusions 83 are each formed as a stepped protrusion including a large-diameter part 83a, a middle-diameter part 83b, and a small-diameter part 83c in order from the root end. Each heat dissipation protrusion 83 individually passes through a through hole 46a provided in the cover housing 40 during the assembly of the connector 1. In the present embodiment, a shield packing 63 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the middle-diameter part 83b of each heat dissipation protrusion 83.

[0061] Here, when the upper shell 80 is attached to the cover housing 40, the heat dissipation protrusion 83 passes through the through hole 46a provided in the cover housing 40, and the small-diameter part 83c at the tip end approaches or contacts the electric wire 100 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). For this reason, the heat generated during energization of the electric wire 100 can be dissipated to the outside of the connector 1 by the heat dissipation protrusion 83 extending into the internal space surrounded by the outer housing 30 and the cover housing 40 from the bottom wall 80a of the upper shell 80. Further, by bringing the tip end of the heat dissipation protrusion 83 close to or into contact with the electric wire 100, the heat generated during energization of the electric wire 100 can be efficiently dissipated to the outside of the connector 1.

[0062] The lower shell 81 is made of metal and covers a part of the front wall 34 of the housing main body part 31 and the electric wire lead-out part 33 in the outer housing 30. The lower shell 81 has a cylindrical part 81a and a flange part 81b.

[0063] The cylindrical portion 81a covers the wire lead-out portion 33 by accommodating the wire lead-out portion 33 through a through-space having an oval-shaped cross-section that opens in the Z direction. One open end of the cylindrical portion 81a is a fixed end that is continuous with the flange portion 81b. The other open end of the cylindrical portion 81a is an open end that forms an opening for drawing out each wire 100 from the wire lead-out portion 33 to the outside.

[0064] The flange portion 81b is a flat plate portion orthogonal to the Z direction, and covers a part of the front wall 34 by facing a part of the front wall 34. Further, the flange portion 81b has a through-hole 81d through which a bolt (not shown) that penetrates a fitting hole 36a provided in the outer housing 30 during the assembly of the connector 1 is pre-penetrated.

[0065] Furthermore, the connector 1 includes a plurality of bolts (not shown) and a plurality of collars (not shown) that are pre-fitted into the fitting holes 36a of the outer housing 30 as members for assembling each component. As described above, the flange portion 81b of the lower shell 81 is provided with a through-hole 81d. A collar is fitted into the fitting hole 36a of the outer housing 30. And, a fastening hole 80f is provided in the support portion 80e of the upper shell 80. By inserting and fastening bolts (not shown) through the through-hole 81d, the collar in the fitting hole 36a, and the fastening hole 80f, the lower shell 81, the outer housing 30, and the upper shell 80 are integrally assembled.

[0066] Next, the operation and effects of the connector 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0067] The connector 1 is connected to an external connector. The connector 1 includes a plurality of terminals 10, a plurality of wires 100 connected to each terminal 10, a non-metallic housing that houses the terminals 10 and the wires 100, and a metallic shield member that covers at least a part of the outer surface of the housing. The housing has a through portion 46 that penetrates the inside and outside of the housing. The shield member has a heat dissipation portion 82 that penetrates the through portion 46 provided in the housing and extends into the internal space of the housing.

[0068] Here, in the above illustration, the housing corresponds to the cover housing 40, and the shield member corresponds to the upper shell 80.

[0069] According to this connector 1, when the upper shell 80 is attached to the cover housing 40, the heat dissipation part 82 provided on the upper shell 80 penetrates the through-hole 46 provided on the cover housing 40 and extends into the internal space of the cover housing 40. For this reason, the heat generated during energization in the electric wire 100 can be dissipated to the outside of the connector 1 by the heat dissipation part 82 extending into the internal space surrounded by the outer housing 30 and the cover housing 40 in the upper shell 80.

[0070] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the connector 1 that can efficiently dissipate the heat generated during energization in the electric wire 100 to the outside of the connector 1 and improve the heat dissipation performance.

[0071] In the connector 1, the through-hole 46 has a plurality of through-holes 46a penetrating the housing. The heat dissipation part 82 has a plurality of heat dissipation protrusions 83 that are to be penetrated through the through-holes 46a when the shield member is attached to the housing, corresponding to each through-hole 46a. The tip of the heat dissipation protrusion 83 is close to or in contact with the electric wire 100 when the shield member is attached to the housing.

[0072] According to this connector 1, when the upper shell 80 is attached to the cover housing 40, the heat dissipation protrusion 83 penetrates the through-hole 46a provided in the cover housing 40 and is close to or in contact with the electric wire 100 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). For this reason, the heat generated during energization in the electric wire 100 can be dissipated to the outside of the connector 1 by the heat dissipation protrusion 83 extending into the internal space surrounded by the outer housing 30 and the cover housing 40 in the upper shell 80. Further, by bringing the heat dissipation protrusion 83 close to or in contact with the electric wire 100, the heat generated during energization in the electric wire 100 can be dissipated to the outside of the connector 1 more efficiently.

[0073] In the connector 1, a seal member for sealing the gap between each through-hole 46a and the heat-radiating projection 83 is disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 46a and the outer peripheral surface of the heat-radiating projection 83.

[0074] Here, in the above example, the seal member corresponds to the shield packing 63.

[0075] According to this connector 1, by disposing the shield packing 63 between the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 46a and the outer peripheral surface of the heat-radiating projection 83, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of moisture from the outside into the inside of the cover housing 40 through the through-hole 46a.

[0076] In the connector 1, the housing has an outer housing 30 having a housing main body portion 31 and a cover housing 40 that covers an opening formed in the housing main body portion 31. The through portion 46 is formed in the cover housing 40. The heat-radiating portion 82 is formed in an upper shell 80 as a shield member that covers at least a part of the outer surface of the cover housing 40.

[0077] According to this connector 1, when the upper shell 80 is attached to the cover housing 40, the heat-radiating portion 82 provided in the upper shell 80 penetrates through the through portion 46 provided in the cover housing 40 and extends into the internal space of the cover housing 40. For this reason, the heat generated when the electric wire 100 is energized can be radiated to the outside of the connector 1 by the heat-radiating portion 82 that extends into the internal space surrounded by the outer housing 30 and the cover housing 40 from the upper shell 80.

[0078] [Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the case where the upper shell 80 as an example of the shield member has the heat-radiating portion 82 was exemplified. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a lower shell 81 as an example of the shield member has a heat-radiating portion 92.

[0079] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1 according to the second embodiment corresponding to the cross-section taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. Note that components that are substantially the same as those of the connector 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0080] The through-hole portion 91 is provided in the front wall 34 of the outer housing 30 corresponding to the positions of the two electric wires 100 accommodated in the outer housing 30. The through-hole portion 91 has two through-holes 91a arranged in parallel along the X direction. The two through-holes 91a are each formed as a stepped hole (counterbore hole) including a small-diameter hole 91b and a large-diameter hole 91c. Each through-hole 91a individually penetrates a heat dissipation protrusion 93 provided on the lower shell 81 when the connector 1 is assembled.

[0081] The heat dissipation portion 92 is integrally provided on the flange portion 81b of the lower shell 81 corresponding to the positions of the two electric wires 100 accommodated in the outer housing 30. The heat dissipation portion 92 has two heat dissipation protrusions 93 arranged in parallel along the X direction. Each heat dissipation protrusion 93 individually penetrates the through-hole 91a provided in the outer housing 30 when the connector 1 is assembled. In the present embodiment, a shield packing 94 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of each heat dissipation protrusion 93.

[0082] Here, when the lower shell 81 is attached to the outer housing 30, the heat dissipation protrusion 93 penetrates the through-hole 91a provided in the outer housing 30, and the tip portion 93a approaches or contacts the electric wire 100. Therefore, heat generated when the electric wire 100 is energized can be dissipated to the outside of the connector 1 by the heat dissipation protrusion 93 extending into the internal space surrounded by the outer housing 30 and the cover housing 40 from the flange portion 81b of the lower shell 81. Further, by bringing the tip portion 93a of the heat dissipation protrusion 93 close to or into contact with the electric wire 100, heat generated when the electric wire 100 is energized can be efficiently dissipated to the outside of the connector 1.

[0083] Next, the operation and effects of the connector 1 according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0084] Connector 1 is a connector that is connected to an external connector. Connector 1 includes a plurality of terminals 10, a plurality of electric wires 100 connected to each terminal 10, a non-metallic housing that houses the terminals 10 and the electric wires 100, and a metallic shield member that covers at least a part of the outer surface of the housing. The housing has a through-hole 91 that penetrates the inside and outside of the housing. The shield member has a heat radiating portion 92 that penetrates the through-hole 91 provided in the housing and extends into the internal space of the housing.

[0085] Here, in the above illustration, the housing corresponds to the outer housing 30, and the shield member corresponds to the lower shell 81.

[0086] According to this connector 1, when the lower shell 81 is attached to the outer housing 30, the heat radiating portion 92 provided in the lower shell 81 penetrates the through-hole 91 provided in the outer housing 30 and extends into the internal space of the outer housing 30. Therefore, the heat generated during energization in the electric wire 100 can be radiated to the outside of the connector 1 by the heat radiating portion 92 that extends into the internal space surrounded by the outer housing 30 and the cover housing 40 from the lower shell 81.

[0087] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is also possible to provide the connector 1 that can efficiently radiate the heat generated during energization in the electric wire 100 to the outside of the connector 1 and improve the heat radiation performance.

[0088] In the connector 1, the through-hole 91 has a plurality of through-holes 91a that penetrate the housing. The heat radiating portion 92 has a plurality of heat radiating protrusions 93 that are made to penetrate the through-holes 91a when the shield member is attached to the housing, corresponding to each through-hole 91a. The tip of the heat radiating protrusion 93 is close to or in contact with the electric wire 100 when the shield member is attached to the housing.

[0089] According to this connector 1, when the lower shell 81 is attached to the outer housing 30, the heat dissipation protrusion 93 penetrates through the through hole 91a provided in the outer housing 30 and approaches or contacts the electric wire 100 (see FIG. 9). Therefore, the heat dissipation protrusion 93 extending into the internal space surrounded by the outer housing 30 and the cover housing 40 from the lower shell 81 can dissipate the heat generated when the electric wire 100 is energized to the outside of the connector 1. Further, by bringing the heat dissipation protrusion 93 close to or into contact with the electric wire 100, the heat generated when the electric wire 100 is energized can be more efficiently dissipated to the outside of the connector 1.

[0090] In the connector 1, a seal member for sealing the gap between each through hole 91a and the heat dissipation protrusion 93 is disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 91a and the outer peripheral surface of the heat dissipation protrusion 93.

[0091] Here, in the above example, the seal member corresponds to the shield packing 94.

[0092] According to this connector 1, by disposing the shield packing 94 between the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 91a and the outer peripheral surface of the heat dissipation protrusion 93, it is possible to prevent moisture from entering the inside of the outer housing 30 from the outside through the through hole 91a.

[0093] In the connector 1, the housing includes an outer housing 30 having a housing main body portion 31 and a cover housing 40 that covers an opening formed in the housing main body portion 31. The through portion 46 is formed in the housing main body portion 31. The heat dissipation portion 82 is formed on the lower shell 81 as a shield member that covers at least a part of the outer surface of the housing main body portion 31.

[0094] According to this connector 1, when the lower shell 81 is attached to the outer housing 30, the heat dissipation part 92 provided on the lower shell 81 penetrates the through hole 91 provided on the outer housing 30 and extends into the internal space of the outer housing 30. Therefore, the heat dissipation part 92 extending from the lower shell 81 into the internal space surrounded by the outer housing 30 and the cover housing 40 can dissipate the heat generated during energization of the electric wire 100 to the outside of the connector 1.

[0095] As described above, the present embodiment has been described, but the present embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0096] 1 Connector 10 Terminals 30 Outer housing 31 Housing main body part 35a Open end 40 Cover housing 46 Through hole 46a Through hole 63 Shield packing 80 Upper shell 81 Lower shell 82 Heat dissipation part 91 Through hole 91a Through hole 92 Heat dissipation part 93 Heat dissipation protrusion 94 Shield packing 100 Electric wire

Claims

1. A connector connected to an external connector, comprising: a plurality of terminals; a plurality of electric wires connected to each of the terminals; a non-metallic housing for housing the terminals and the electric wires; a metallic shield member covering at least a part of the outer surface of the housing; and the housing has a through-hole penetrating the inside and outside of the housing; the shield member has a heat dissipation portion extending into the internal space of the housing through the through-hole provided in the housing; a connector.

2. The through-hole has a plurality of through-holes penetrating the housing, the heat dissipation portion has a plurality of heat dissipation protrusions that are aligned with each through-hole and penetrate the through-hole when the shield member is attached to the housing, the tip of the heat dissipation protrusion is close to or in contact with the electric wire when the shield member is attached to the housing; The connector according to claim 1.

3. A seal member for sealing a gap between each through-hole and the heat dissipation protrusion is disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole and the outer peripheral surface of the heat dissipation protrusion. The connector according to claim 2.

4. The housing includes: an outer housing having a housing main body portion; and a cover housing covering an opening formed in the housing main body portion, the through-hole is formed in the cover housing, the heat dissipation portion is formed in an upper shell as the shield member covering at least a part of the outer surface of the cover housing; The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The housing includes: an outer housing having a housing main body portion; and a cover housing covering an opening formed in the housing main body portion, the through-hole is formed in the housing main body portion, the heat dissipation portion is formed in a lower shell as the shield member covering at least a part of the outer surface of the housing main body portion; The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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