Connector unit

Abstract

To provide a connector unit capable of improving heat dissipation while avoiding an increase in size.SOLUTION: A connector unit 1 includes: a terminal fitting 10; a housing 20 that houses the terminal fitting 10; a fixing fitting 30 that is embedded in the housing 20 and fastens and fixes the terminal fitting 10 to an external conductive component 81; a metal frame member 40 to which the housing 20 is attached; and a heat transfer member 50 that thermally connects the frame member 40 and a portion 31a of the fixing fitting 30 exposed from the housing 20. The heat transfer member 50 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the part 31a of the fixing fitting 30 and the frame member 40, and has flexibility capable of being deformed in accordance with a shape of a gap between the part 31a of the fixing fitting 30 and the frame member 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector unit comprising terminal fittings, a housing for accommodating the terminal fittings, fixing fittings that are embedded in the housing and fasten the terminal fittings to external conductive components, a metal frame member to which the housing is attached, and a heat transfer member that thermally connects the frame member and a portion of the fixing fittings exposed from the housing. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Various connectors have been proposed for use in power cables for supplying power from a power source mounted on a vehicle or the like to an electrical load (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-83460 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned types of connectors, terminal fittings and conductive components such as electric wires and bus bars are generally electrically connected within a housing. Although the connection points between the terminal fittings and these conductive components are areas where Joule heat is generated during electrical conduction due to high contact resistance, they are isolated from the outside by being covered by the housing. This makes it difficult to dissipate heat from the connection points to the outside. Due to this difficulty in dissipating heat, excessive increases in the temperature of the connector during electrical conduction can lead to deterioration of the components that make up the connector. Meanwhile, simply assembling dedicated heat dissipation components (e.g., heat dissipation fins, etc.) on the outside of the connector is undesirable because it can hinder efforts to miniaturize the connector and because the installation space for the connector within the vehicle is limited.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector unit that can improve heat dissipation while preventing the connector unit from becoming large. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector unit according to the present invention has the following features.

[0007] A connector unit comprising: terminal fittings; a housing for accommodating the terminal fittings; fixtures that are embedded in the housing and fasten the terminal fittings to external conductive parts; a metal frame member to which the housing is attached; and a heat transfer member that thermally connects the frame member and a portion of the fixtures exposed from the housing, The heat transfer member is The fixing member is disposed so as to be sandwiched between a portion of the fixing member and the frame member, and has flexibility that allows it to deform to fit the shape of the gap between the portion of the fixing member and the frame member. It is a connector unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the connector unit of the present invention, external conductive components (e.g., round terminals, bus bars, etc.) and terminal fittings are fastened to and electrically connected with fixtures embedded in the housing and fixed to the housing. Furthermore, a heat transfer member is arranged so as to be sandwiched between a portion of the fixture fitting exposed from the housing and a metal frame member. This allows heat generated at the contact points between the terminal fittings and their mating terminal fittings or at the connection points between the terminal fittings and the conductive components during electrical conduction to be transferred in the order of the fixture fitting, the heat transfer member, and the frame member. The heat transfer member has flexibility that allows it to deform to fit the shape of the gap between the frame member and a portion of the fixture fitting, thereby providing a larger contact area with both the frame member and a portion of the fixture fitting than in a case where it does not have such flexibility. Furthermore, even when the connector unit is subjected to external forces such as vibrations during use or even after the connector unit has been used for a long period of time, the heat transfer member can maintain contact with the frame member and a portion of the fixture fitting. Additionally, the metal frame member has a large heat capacity and excellent heat transfer properties, and because it is exposed to the outside air, it also has excellent heat dissipation properties. This allows the connector unit of this configuration to improve heat dissipation while avoiding an increase in size of the connector unit.

[0009] The heat transfer member may be in direct contact with a portion of the frame member and the fastening member, or indirect contact with the frame member and the fastening member via an adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, etc. In the latter case, it is preferable that the adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, etc. also have excellent heat conductivity. Furthermore, the heat transfer member may be in indirect contact with the frame member and the fastening member via another material, etc., other than an adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, etc., that has excellent heat conductivity.

[0010] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention set forth below, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector unit according to an embodiment of the present invention and a mating connector. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector unit shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the housing, the frame member, and the heat transfer member that constitute the connector unit shown in FIG. 2 are separated from each other. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] <Embodiment> A connector unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The connector unit 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 functions as a relay connector that electrically connects an electric wire 82 (see Figure 4) extending from a housing 20 of the connector unit 1 to a mating connector 2 (see Figure 1) that is mated with the connector unit 1.

[0013] For ease of explanation, the following definitions are used for the "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," "left-right direction," "front," "rear," "up," "down," "left," and "right" as shown in Figure 1 etc. The "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," and "left-right direction" are perpendicular to each other. The front-rear direction coincides with the mating direction of the connector unit 1 and the mating connector 2.

[0014] 1 to 4, the connector unit 1 mainly includes a terminal fitting 10, a housing 20, a nut member 30, a frame member 40, and a heat transfer member 50. The configuration of each member constituting the connector unit 1 will be described below in order.

[0015] First, the terminal fitting 10 will be described. As shown in Fig. 4, the metal terminal fitting (female terminal) 10 integrally includes a cylindrical contact portion 11, a plate-shaped fastening portion 12 located behind the cylindrical contact portion 11, and a plate-shaped connecting portion 13 connecting the cylindrical contact portion 11 and the plate-shaped fastening portion 12. The cylindrical contact portion 11 is electrically connected to a terminal fitting (male terminal) 71 (see Fig. 1) on the mating connector 2 when the connector unit 1 and the mating connector 2 are mated, and has a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction. The plate-shaped fastening portion 12 is a portion to which an external terminal 81 connected to an electric wire 82 is fastened and fixed using a nut member 30 and a bolt 91, and has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape with its plate thickness direction facing up and down (see also Fig. 1). A bolt insertion hole 14 penetrating in the plate thickness direction (up and down) is formed in the center of the plate-shaped fastening portion 12. A pair of left and right locking holes (through holes) 15 are formed in the front end of the plate-shaped fastening portion 12 (see FIG. 1).

[0016] Next, the housing 20 will be described. The housing 20 is a resin molded product. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the housing 20 integrally includes an outer tube 21 having a slot-like shape elongated in the left-right direction when viewed from the front and extending in the front-rear direction, a pair of cylindrical terminal fitting accommodating tube portions 22 extending in the front-rear direction within the outer tube 21 and aligned in the left-right direction, and a flat rear end wall portion 23 connecting the rear ends of the outer tube 21 and the pair of terminal fitting accommodating tube portions 22. The front end of the outer tube 21 is open, and the rear end is closed by the rear end wall portion 23. The rear end of each terminal fitting accommodating tube portion 22 is open, and the front end communicates with the outside via an insertion hole 24. The terminal fitting accommodating tube portions 22 accommodate the cylindrical contact portions 11 of the terminal fittings 10. A pair of flat flange portions 25 extending outward in both directions is provided at the front end edge of the outer tube 21. A rubber packing 92 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 21 at a position adjacent to the rear side of the pair of flange portions 25. When the housing 20 is attached to the frame member 40, the packing 92 serves to seal the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 42 of the frame member 40 that is fitted onto the outer tubular portion 21 and the outer peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 21.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the housing 20 is integrally provided with a substantially rectangular flat extension portion 26 extending rearward from a part of the rear end wall portion 23 adjacent to the lower side of the rear end openings of the pair of terminal fitting receiving cylindrical portions 22. When the pair of left and right terminal fittings 10 are received in the housing 20, the pair of left and right plate-like fastening portions 12 are arranged to cover the upper surfaces of the extension portion 26 (see Figures 1 and 4). When the pair of left and right terminal fittings 10 are received in the housing 20, nut members 30 are embedded (integrated) by insert molding in the portions of the extension portion 26 where the pair of left and right bolt insertion holes 14 are respectively positioned, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The nut member 30 functions to fasten the terminal fittings 10 and the external terminals 81 to the housing 20. The nut member 30 is made of metal and is composed of a cylindrical main body 31 that extends vertically, has a bottom wall 31a at its lower end, and is open at its upper end, and a flange 32 that extends radially from the edge of the opening at the upper end of the main body 31. A female thread that corresponds to the male thread of the bolt 91 is formed on the inner peripheral side surface of the main body 31. Most of the main body 31 is embedded in the extension 26, and the upper opening of the main body 31 and the flange 32 are exposed to the outside at the upper surface of the extension 26. The bottom wall 31a of the main body 31 (more specifically, the lower end portion of the bottom wall 31a) is exposed so as to protrude slightly downward from the lower end surface of the extension 26.

[0018] A pair of left and right locking protrusions 27 are provided on the upper surface of the extending portion 26 at positions adjacent to the front of each of the pair of left and right nut members 30, corresponding to the pair of left and right locking holes 15 in the plate-shaped fastening portion 12 of each terminal fitting 10 (see FIG. 1). A flat partition wall 28 that protrudes upward and extends in the front-to-rear direction is provided between the pair of left and right nut members 30 on the upper surface of the extending portion 26. The partition wall 28 is positioned so as to separate the pair of left and right plate-shaped fastening portions 12 that will be placed on the upper surface of the extending portion 26, thereby functioning to prevent the occurrence of unintended short circuits between the pair of left and right plate-shaped fastening portions 12.

[0019] Next, the frame member 40 will be described. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the metal frame member 40 has a main body 41 in the shape of a generally rectangular flat plate extending in the left-right and up-down directions. A through-hole 42 is provided in the center of the main body 41, corresponding to the outer cylinder 21 of the housing 20, and has an elongated hole shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front-to-rear direction and penetrates in the front-to-rear direction. The outer cylinder 21 of the housing 20 is inserted into the through-hole 42, whereby the housing 20 is attached to the frame member 40.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the frame member 40 is integrally provided with a substantially rectangular, flat extension portion 43 extending rearward from a portion of the main body portion 41 adjacent to the lower side of the rear end opening of the through-hole 42. When the housing 20 is attached to the frame member 40, the extension portion 26 of the housing 20 is positioned to cover the upper surface of the extension portion 43 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). When the housing 20 is attached to the frame member 40, the extension portion 43 is positioned to face the bottom wall portions 31a of the pair of left and right nut members 30 exposed from the lower end surfaces of the extension portion 26 in the up-down direction with a small gap therebetween. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the installation surface 44 in this example is a flat surface that extends slightly inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction so that the rear side is positioned higher than the front side, and that extends parallel to the left-to-right direction across the entire left-to-right range of the extension portion 43. As will be described later, the installation surface 44 functions as a portion where the sheet-shaped heat transfer member 50 is sandwiched between the installation surface 44 and the bottom wall portion 31a of the nut member 30.

[0021] Next, the heat transfer member 50 will be described. The heat transfer member 50 is a member used so as to be sandwiched between the bottom wall portions 31a of the pair of left and right nut members 30 exposed from the lower end surfaces of the extension portions 26 and the installation surface 44 of the frame member 40 when the housing 20 is attached to the frame member 40 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In this example, as shown in FIG. 3, the heat transfer member 50 has a thin sheet-like shape having a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the top-bottom direction. The heat transfer member 50 has higher thermal conductivity than the resin material that constitutes the housing 20 and is made of a flexible material that can deform to fit the shape of the gap between the bottom wall portions 31a of the nut members 30 and the installation surface 44 of the frame member 40.

[0022] The heat transfer member 50 may be made of, for example, a thermally conductive resin material, a mixed material in which a heat transfer body is mixed with a base resin, or a mesh material made of wires with thermal conductivity. The heat transfer member 50 may be made by processing these materials into a plate or tape shape. Furthermore, if these materials are sufficiently flexible in the environment in which the heat transfer member 50 will be used, these materials may be applied to the housing 20 or the frame member 40 in a paste form.

[0023] The configuration of each member that constitutes the connector unit 1 has been described above.

[0024] Next, the procedure for assembling the connector unit 1 will be described. First, the pair of left and right terminal fittings 10 are accommodated in the housing 20. To do this, the cylindrical contact portions 11 of the terminal fittings 10 are inserted into the respective terminal fitting accommodation cylindrical portions 22 of the housing 20 from the rear side. The plate-like fastening portions 12 of the terminal fittings 10 are positioned so that the bolt insertion holes 14 are positioned above the upper end openings of the nut members 30 and so that the locking holes 15 are engaged with the locking projections 27 of the housing 20, covering the upper surface of the extension portions 26 of the housing 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). Engaging the locking holes 15 with the locking projections 27 prevents the terminal fittings 10 from shifting out of position relative to the housing 20.

[0025] Next, the housing 20 is attached to the frame member 40. To do this, sheet-like heat transfer member 50 is attached to the bottom wall portions 31 a of the pair of left and right nut members 30 exposed from the lower end surfaces of the extension portions 26 of the housing 20 or to the installation surface 44 of the extension portions 43 of the frame member 40. Then, the outer cylinder portion 21 of the housing 20 is inserted into the through hole 42 of the frame member 40 until the flange portion 25 of the housing 20 abuts against the main body portion 41 of the frame member 40. When the housing 20 is completely attached to the frame member 40, the heat transfer member 50 is pressed and sandwiched between the bottom wall portions 31 a of the nut members 30 and the installation surface 44 of the frame member 40, as shown in FIG. 5 . Due to the flexibility of the heat transfer member 50, it flexibly deforms to fit the shape of the gap between the bottom wall portions 31 a of the nut members 30 and the installation surface 44 of the frame member 40. Therefore, compared to when the heat transfer member 50 is not flexible, the heat transfer member 50 contacts both the nut member 30 and the frame member 40 over a larger contact area. In other words, the heat transfer member 50 thermally connects the nut member 30 and the frame member 40. Furthermore, since the installation surface 44 extends at a slight incline with respect to the front-to-rear direction so that the rear side is positioned higher than the front side, as described above, the heat transfer member 50 is less likely to turn over due to frictional force from the bottom wall portion 31a of the nut member 30 when attaching the housing 20 to the frame member 40, compared to when the installation surface 44 extends parallel to the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the heat transfer member 50 receives increased pressure from the bottom wall portion 31a of the nut member 30 and the installation surface 44, making it easier for the heat transfer member 50 to be in closer contact with the bottom wall portion 31a of the nut member 30 and the installation surface 44. As a result, the assembly of the connector unit 1 is completed, and the connector unit 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is obtained.

[0026] The assembled connector unit 1 is mated with the mating connector 2 shown in FIG. 1. The housing 60 of the mating connector 2 includes a connector portion 61 extending in the front-rear direction and an electric wire accommodating portion 62 extending in the up-down direction, and has a generally L-shaped configuration when viewed from the left-right direction. The connector portion 61 includes an outer tubular portion 63 shaped to be able to fit into the connector portion 61 of the housing 20, and a pair of left and right terminal fitting accommodating tubular portions 64 shaped to be able to fit into the pair of left and right terminal fitting accommodating tubular portions 22 of the housing 20, respectively. A terminal fitting (male terminal) 71 is accommodated in each of the pair of left and right terminal fitting accommodating tubular portions 64. A pair of left and right electric wires 72, one end of which is connected to each of the pair of left and right terminal fittings 71, pass through the inside of the electric wire accommodating portion 62 and extend downward to the outside from the lower end opening of the electric wire accommodating portion 62.

[0027] The connector unit 1 and the mating connector 2 are fitted together such that the outer tubular portion 21 is inserted onto the outer tubular portion 63 and the terminal fitting accommodating tubular portion 22 is inserted into the terminal fitting accommodating tubular portion 64. When the connector unit 1 and the mating connector 2 are fully fitted together, the tubular contact portions 11 of the terminal fittings 10 in the terminal fitting accommodating tubular portion 22 are electrically connected to the terminal fittings 71 in the terminal fitting accommodating tubular portion 64. A packing 93 (see FIG. 1) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 63 serves to seal a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 21 of the housing 20 that is inserted onto the outer tubular portion 63 and the outer peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 63.

[0028] Furthermore, in the connector unit 1 after assembly is completed, external terminals 81 connected to electric wires 82 are fastened to the plate-like fastening portions 12 of the pair of left and right terminal fittings 10 using nut members 30 and bolts 91 (see FIG. 4). Specifically, the bolts 91 are inserted in this order through the bolt insertion holes 81a provided in the flat plate portions of the external terminals 81 and the bolt insertion holes 14 of the plate-like fastening portions 12, and are screwed into the internal space of the cylindrical main body 31 of the nut member 30, whereby the terminal fittings 10 and the external terminals 81 are fastened to the nut member 30 fixed to the housing 20.

[0029] In the connector unit 1, the contact points between the terminal fittings 10 and 71 are located within the housing 20 for insulation from the outside, even though they generate a large amount of Joule heat during electrical connection due to their high contact resistance. This makes it extremely difficult to dissipate heat from the contact points between the terminal fittings 10 and 71 to the outside. Furthermore, when a large current passes through the connector unit 1 while the connector unit 1 is mated with the mating connector 2, the amount of heat generated also increases. In this regard, in the connector unit 1, the heat transfer member 50 is sandwiched between the bottom wall portion 31a of the nut member 30 exposed from the housing 20 and the metal frame member 40. This allows heat generated at the contact points between the terminal fittings 10 and 71 during electrical connection to be transferred sequentially through the nut member 30, the heat transfer member 50, and the frame member 40. Because the heat transfer member 50 is flexible as described above, it contacts both the frame member 40 and the nut member 30 over a larger contact area than if it were inflexible. This allows the connector unit 1 to improve heat dissipation.

[0030] <Actions and Effects> As described above, according to the connector unit 1 of this embodiment, the external terminals 81 and the terminal fittings 10 are fastened to the nut member 30 embedded in the housing 20 and electrically connected, and are fixed to the housing 20. Furthermore, the heat transfer member 50 is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the bottom wall portion 31a of the nut member 30 exposed from the housing 20 and the metal frame member 40. As a result, heat generated at the contact point between the terminal fittings 10 and the terminal fittings 71 of the mating connector 2 when current is applied is transferred in the following order: the nut member 30, the heat transfer member 50, and the frame member 40. The heat transfer member 50 has flexibility that allows it to deform to fit the shape of the gap between the frame member 40 and the bottom wall portion 31a of the nut member 30. Therefore, compared to a case where the heat transfer member 50 does not have such flexibility, it comes into contact with both the frame member 40 and the bottom wall portion 31a of the nut member 30 over a larger contact area. Furthermore, even if external forces such as vibrations are applied when the connector unit 1 is used, or even if the connector unit 1 is used for a long period of time, the heat transfer member 50 can be maintained in contact with the frame member 40 and the bottom wall portion 31a of the nut member 30. In addition, the metal frame member 40 has a large heat capacity and excellent heat transfer properties, and since it is in contact with the outside air, it also has excellent heat dissipation properties. As a result, the connector unit 1 according to this embodiment can improve heat dissipation properties while avoiding an increase in the size of the connector unit 1.

[0031] <Other aspects> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0032] Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the connector unit 1 according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3].

[0033] [1] A connector unit (1) comprising: a terminal fitting (10); a housing (20) that accommodates the terminal fitting (10); a fixing fitting (30) that is embedded in the housing (20) and fastens the terminal fitting (10) to an external conductive part (81); a metal frame member (40) to which the housing (20) is attached; and a heat transfer member (50) that thermally connects the frame member (40) and a part (31 a) of the fixing fitting (30) that is exposed from the housing (20), The heat transfer member (50) is The fixing bracket (30) is disposed so as to be sandwiched between a portion (31 a) of the fixing bracket (30) and the frame member (40), and has flexibility that allows it to deform to fit the shape of the gap between the portion (31 a) of the fixing bracket (30) and the frame member (40). Connector unit (1).

[0034] According to the connector unit having the configuration [1] above, an external conductive component (e.g., a round terminal, a bus bar, etc.) and a terminal fitting are fastened to a fixture embedded in the housing and electrically connected to the fixture. Furthermore, a heat transfer member is disposed between a portion of the fixture fitting exposed from the housing and a metal frame member. This allows heat generated at the contact points between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal fitting or at the connection points between the terminal fitting and the conductive component during electrical connection to be transferred sequentially through the fixture fitting, the heat transfer member, and the frame member. The heat transfer member has flexibility that allows it to deform to fit the shape of the gap between the frame member and a portion of the fixture fitting, resulting in a larger contact area between both the frame member and a portion of the fixture fitting than in a case without such flexibility. Furthermore, even when the connector unit is subjected to external forces such as vibrations during use or even after the connector unit has been used for a long period of time, the heat transfer member can maintain contact with the frame member and a portion of the fixture fitting. Additionally, the metal frame member has a large heat capacity and excellent heat transfer properties, and its exposure to the outside air also provides excellent heat dissipation. This allows the connector unit of this configuration to improve heat dissipation while avoiding an increase in size of the connector unit.

[0035] The heat transfer member may be in direct contact with a portion of the frame member and the fastening member, or indirect contact with the frame member and the fastening member via an adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, etc. In the latter case, it is preferable that the adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, etc. also have excellent heat conductivity. Furthermore, the heat transfer member may be in indirect contact with the frame member and the fastening member via another material, etc., other than an adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, etc., that has excellent heat conductivity.

[0036] [2] The connector unit (1) described in [1] above, The frame member (40) an installation surface (44) extending in a direction intersecting a mounting direction in which the housing (20) is mounted to the frame member (40); The heat transfer member (50) is The fixing member (30) is disposed so as to be sandwiched between a part (31a) of the fixing member (30) and the installation surface (44). Connector unit (1).

[0037] According to the connector unit having the configuration [2] above, when the housing is attached to the frame member, the heat transfer member is sandwiched between a portion of the fixing bracket and the installation surface of the frame member. This sandwiches the heat transfer member between the portion of the fixing bracket and the installation surface, bringing them into close contact with each other. Because the installation surface extends in a direction intersecting the installation direction in which the housing is attached to the frame member, the heat transfer member is less likely to curl up when the housing is attached to the frame member than when the installation surface extends parallel to the installation direction. Furthermore, the pressure applied to the heat transfer member by the portion of the fixing bracket and the installation surface is increased, making it easier for the heat transfer member to come into closer contact with the portion of the fixing bracket and the installation surface. This allows heat generated during electrical current flow to be efficiently transferred from the portion of the fixing bracket to the frame member via the heat transfer member.

[0038] [3] In the connector unit (1) described in [1] above, The material constituting the heat transfer member (50) is The material has better heat conductivity than the material constituting the housing (20). Connector unit (1).

[0039] In the connector unit having the configuration [3] above, the material constituting the heat transfer member has better heat conductivity than the material constituting the housing, so that heat generated at the connection points between the terminal fittings and the conductive parts can be dissipated to the outside via the heat transfer member more efficiently than when the housing is in direct contact with the shielding member. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Connector unit 10 Terminal fittings 20. Housing 30 Nut material (fixing bracket) 31a Bottom wall (part of the fixing bracket) 40 Frame members 44 Installation surface 50 Heat transfer material 81 External terminal (external conductive part)

Claims

1. A connector unit comprising: terminal fittings; a housing for accommodating the terminal fittings; fixtures that are embedded in the housing and fasten the terminal fittings to external conductive parts; a metal frame member to which the housing is attached; and a heat transfer member that thermally connects the frame member and a portion of the fixtures exposed from the housing, The heat transfer member is The fixing member is disposed so as to be sandwiched between a portion of the fixing member and the frame member, and has flexibility that allows it to deform to fit the shape of the gap between the portion of the fixing member and the frame member. Connector unit.

2. 2. The connector unit according to claim 1, The frame member is an installation surface extending in a direction intersecting a mounting direction in which the housing is mounted to the frame member; The heat transfer member is The fixing member is disposed so as to be sandwiched between a part of the fixing member and the installation surface. Connector unit.

3. The connector unit according to claim 1, The material constituting the heat transfer member is The material has better thermal conductivity than the material constituting the housing. Connector unit.

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