Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which is avoided in an increase in the size and furthermore in which excessive rise in operating temperature of a terminal can be suppressed.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: a terminal 10 to be connected to an electric wire 2; a housing 20 in which the terminal 10 is housed; and a cylindrical heat transfer member 30 into which the terminal 10 is inserted. The heat transfer member 30 has a cylindrical inner surface 32 in contact with the terminal 10, a cylindrical outer surface 31a in contact with the housing 20, and fin structure 33 and 35 for heat dissipation at positions not in contact with the housing 20. The heat transfer member 30 has the fin structures 33 and 35 in such a way as to be exposed to at least one of a space 25 provided in the housing 20 for connecting the terminal 10 and a mating terminal, and a space 28 provided in the housing 20 for housing the terminal 10 and the heat transfer member 30 in the housing 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector comprising a terminal to be connected to an electric wire, a housing in which the terminal is stored, and a heat transfer member having at least a cylindrical shape in at least a portion thereof and into which the terminal is inserted. [Background technology]

[0002] Connectors for supplying power from outside the vehicle to charge batteries mounted on vehicles such as electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). This type of connector is also generally called a charging inlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-208247 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-187920 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned types of connectors (charging inlets) are generally required to have structures and characteristics defined by various standards. For example, when the above-mentioned connectors are actually used, the temperature of the terminals (so-called operating temperature) rises due to Joule heat generated in the terminals when current is applied. Here, from the perspective of maintaining the quality and safety of the connector, the upper limit of the terminal's operating temperature is defined by a specific standard. In particular, when fast charging a battery, a large current passes through the connector in a short period of time, resulting in a higher temperature rise per unit time in the terminals than in normal charging. Therefore, it may be difficult to maintain the operating temperature of the terminals during fast charging within the range defined by the above standards solely through natural heat dissipation. In other words, the limitation on the magnitude of the current passing through the connector from the perspective of operating temperature hinders the shortening of battery charging time. On the other hand, simply assembling a heat dissipation member (e.g., a metal plate) on the outside of the connector is undesirable because it can increase the size of the connector and because the installation space for the connector inside the vehicle is limited.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a connector that can suppress an excessive rise in the operating temperature of the terminals while avoiding an increase in the size of the connector. [Means for solving the problem]

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

[0007] A connector comprising: a terminal to be connected to an electric wire; a housing in which the terminal is stored; and a heat transfer member having at least a cylindrical shape in at least a portion thereof, the heat transfer member having the terminal inserted into the cylinder, The heat transfer member is The heat transfer member has a cylindrical inner surface that contacts the terminal and a cylindrical outer surface that contacts the housing, and has a fin structure for heat dissipation at a location that does not contact the housing. It is a connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the connector of the present invention, when the terminals are inserted into the cylindrical heat transfer member, the inner surface of the cylindrical heat transfer member comes into contact with the terminals. Furthermore, the outer surface of the cylindrical heat transfer member comes into contact with the housing, and the fin structure of the heat transfer member is positioned in a location that does not contact the housing. This allows the heat transfer member to absorb and store heat generated in the terminals when current is applied, thereby suppressing a sudden increase in the operating temperature of the terminals and allowing the operating temperature of the terminals to increase gradually, even when the amount of heat generated by the terminals per unit time is large, such as during rapid charging. Furthermore, heat dissipation from the outer surface of the cylindrical heat transfer member to the housing and from the fin structure of the heat transfer member to the outside air also suppresses an increase in the temperature of the heat transfer member itself. Therefore, this connector can suppress an excessive increase in the operating temperature of the terminals while avoiding an increase in the size of the connector.

[0009] 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]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to an electric wire. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the heat transfer member shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a heat transfer member according to a modified example. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] <Embodiment> A connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The connector 1 is installed in a vehicle such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, and is connected to an electric wire extending from a battery mounted on the vehicle. The connector 1 is also called a charging inlet. By fitting a mating connector (a so-called charging gun) into a fitting recess 26 of the connector 1 (see FIG. 1, etc.), power is supplied to the battery from outside the vehicle, and the battery is charged.

[0012] For the sake of convenience, the following definitions are used for "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" as shown in Figure 1, etc. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "upper-lower direction" are perpendicular to one another. The front-rear direction coincides with the mating direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector (not shown), and the front side of the mating direction (the side approaching the mating connector) as seen from the connector 1 is called the "front side," and the releasing side of the mating direction (the side moving away from the mating connector) as seen from the connector 1 is called the "rear side."

[0013] As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the connector 1 includes a pair of terminals 10, a housing 20 in which the pair of terminals 10 are stored, a heat transfer member 30 housed in the housing 20, and a holder 40 attached to the housing 20. One end of a pair of electric wires 2 is connected to each of the pair of terminals 10. The other end of the pair of electric wires 2 is connected to a battery (not shown). The electric wires 2 are composed of a conductor core wire 2a and an insulating resin coating 2b that covers the conductor core wire 2a (see Fig. 5). The configuration of each part that makes up the connector 1 will be described below in order.

[0014] First, a pair of terminals 10 will be described. In this example, the pair of terminals 10 have the same shape. Each terminal 10 is made of metal, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , integrally includes a terminal connection portion 11 having an elongated cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction, a wire connection portion 12 having an elongated cylindrical shape located behind the terminal connection portion 11 and extending in the front-rear direction, and an annular flange portion 13 located at the boundary between the terminal connection portion 11 and the wire connection portion 12 and protruding in the radial direction. When the connector 1 is mated with a mating connector, the terminal connection portion 11 functions as a male terminal to be connected to a mating terminal (female terminal) of the mating connector. The wire connection portion 12 is connected to one end of the electric wire 2 by inserting a conductor core wire 2a exposed at one end of the electric wire 2 from a rear end opening of the wire connection portion 12 into a hollow portion of the wire connection portion 12 and crimping the conductor core wire 2a (see FIG. 5 ).

[0015] Next, the housing 20 will be described. The housing 20 is made of resin and, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, integrally includes a substantially cylindrical housing main body 21 extending in the front-rear direction, a substantially cylindrical holder connection portion 22 located on the rear side of the housing main body 21 and having a smaller diameter than the housing main body 21, and a partition wall portion 23 located at the boundary between the housing main body 21 and the holder connection portion 22 and separating the hollow portion of the housing main body 21 from the hollow portion of the holder connection portion 22 in the front-rear direction. A holder 40 is attached to the holder connection portion 22 (see Figure 5). The housing main body 21 and the partition wall portion 23 define a fitting recess 26 that is open forward and recessed rearward.

[0016] A cylindrical terminal accommodating portion 24 is provided in the partition wall portion 23 so as to protrude forward (see FIGS. 3 and 5). The terminal accommodating portion 24 is positioned within the fitting recess 26. A pair of terminal accommodating holes 25 that penetrate in the front-to-rear direction are formed in the partition wall portion 23 and the terminal accommodating portion 24 to correspond to the pair of terminals 10. The front and rear ends of each terminal accommodating hole 25 open to the front end surface of the terminal accommodating portion 24 and the rear end surface of the partition wall portion 23, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, an accommodating recess 27 for accommodating a heat transfer member 30 (see FIG. 4) is formed in the partition wall portion 23 and the terminal accommodating portion 24 located around the rear end opening of each terminal accommodating hole 25. The accommodating recess 27 has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the heat transfer member 30 and is recessed forward and opens rearward. A bottom surface 27a (see FIG. 5) of the accommodating recess 27 communicates with the terminal accommodating hole 25, and a rear end opening of the accommodating recess 27 communicates with the hollow portion 28 of the holder connecting portion 22. A locking portion 29 is provided at the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the housing main body 21. When the connector 1 is mated with the mating connector, the locking portion 29 engages with a locked portion (not shown) of the mating connector, thereby maintaining the mated state of the connector 1 and the mating connector (preventing separation of the two).

[0017] Next, the heat transfer member 30 will be described. The heat transfer member 30 is a member that absorbs heat generated in the terminals 10 when current is applied and dissipates the absorbed heat to the outside. The heat transfer member 30 is preferably made of a heat transfer material that has better heat conductivity (higher thermal conductivity) than the material (resin) that constitutes the housing 20, and in this example, the heat transfer member 30 is made of, for example, a highly thermally conductive resin or metal. The material that constitutes the heat transfer member 30 will also be mentioned in the modified examples that will be described later.

[0018] 4, the heat transfer member 30 includes a cylindrical tubular portion 31 that extends in the front-rear direction. A through hole that penetrates the tubular portion 31 in the front-rear direction functions as a terminal insertion hole 32 through which the terminal connection portion 11 of the terminal 10 is inserted. A plurality of recesses are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at a corner between the front end face of the tubular portion 31 and the outer peripheral side surface 31a, and thereby a plurality of heat dissipation fin portions 33 are formed at the front end of the tubular portion 31 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and extending in the radial direction.

[0019] A plate-like portion 34 extending in the front-rear direction is provided on a part of the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral side surface 31a of the cylindrical portion 31 so as to extend continuously from the front end position of the cylindrical portion 31 to a position rearward of the rear end of the cylindrical portion 31. A plurality of heat dissipation fins 35 are formed on the surface of the plate-like portion 34 opposite the cylindrical portion 31 so as to be aligned at equal intervals in the front-rear direction over the entire front-rear area of ​​the plate-like portion 34.

[0020] Next, the holder 40 will be described. The holder 40 is a member that functions to hold the terminals 10 and the heat transfer member 30 accommodated in the housing 20 within the housing 20. The holder 40 is made of resin, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, integrally includes a cylindrical tubular portion 41 extending in the front-rear direction and a rear wall portion 42 that closes the rear opening of the tubular portion 41. The tubular portion 41 is to be attached to the holder connecting portion 22 of the housing 20 (see FIG. 5). The rear wall portion 42 is formed with a pair of cylindrical wire insertion portions 43 that have hollow portions that penetrate in the front-rear direction and protrude forward, corresponding to the pair of terminal accommodating holes 25 of the housing 20. A pair of electric wires 2 is to be inserted into the pair of electric wire insertion portions 43 (see FIG. 5). The configuration of each component that constitutes the connector 1 has been described above.

[0021] Next, the procedure for assembling the connector 1 will be described. First, in preparation for connecting one ends of the pair of electric wires 2 to the electric wire connecting portions 12 of the pair of terminals 10, the pair of electric wires 2 are inserted, one end first, into the pair of electric wire insertion portions 43 of the holder 40. Next, one ends of the pair of electric wires 2 located forward of the pair of electric wire insertion portions 43 are connected to the electric wire connecting portions 12 of the pair of terminals 10 by means of crimping or the like. Also, the tubular portions 31 of the pair of heat transfer members 30 are inserted into and accommodated in the pair of accommodating recesses 27 of the housing 20 (see FIG. 5). The order of the procedure for connecting the electric wires 2 and the terminals 10 and the procedure for accommodating the heat transfer members 30 in the housing 20 does not matter.

[0022] When the heat transfer member 30 is accommodated in the accommodating recess 27, the outer peripheral side surface 31a (see FIG. 4) of the tubular portion 31 contacts the inner peripheral side surface of the accommodating recess 27, and the outer edge of the front end surface of the tubular portion 31 contacts the bottom surface 27a of the accommodating recess 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat dissipation fin portions 33 of the heat transfer member 30 are exposed to the terminal accommodating holes 25 of the housing 20. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the heat dissipation fin portions 35 of the heat transfer member 30 (particularly, the heat dissipation fin portions 35 located rearward of the tubular portion 31) are exposed to the hollow portion 28 of the holder connecting portion 22 of the housing 20. In other words, the heat dissipation fin portions 33 and 35 of the heat transfer member 30 (particularly, the heat dissipation fin portions 35 located rearward of the tubular portion 31) do not contact the housing 20.

[0023] Next, the pair of terminals 10 are accommodated in the housing 20. To this end, the terminal connection portion 11 of each terminal 10 is inserted from the rear side into the corresponding terminal insertion hole 32 of the heat transfer member 30. When this insertion is complete, the flange portion 13 of the terminal 10 contacts the rear end surface of the cylindrical portion 31 of the heat transfer member 30, and the front portion (tip side portion) of the terminal connection portion 11 is positioned within the terminal accommodating hole 25 so as to protrude forward from the cylindrical portion 31. The outer peripheral surface of the terminal connection portion 11 of the terminal 10 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the terminal insertion hole 32 of the heat transfer member 30.

[0024] Next, the holder 40 is attached to the housing 20. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 41 of the holder 40 is attached to the holder connecting portion 22 of the housing 20 so as to cover the outer periphery of the holder connecting portion 22. When the attachment of the holder 40 is complete, the pair of electric wires 2 extend rearward from the pair of electric wire insertion portions 43 of the holder 40, and the front end surfaces of the pair of electric wire insertion portions 43 of the holder 40 are in contact with the flange portions 13 of the pair of terminals 10 (see FIG. 5 ). As a result, the cylindrical portion 31 of the heat transfer member 30 and the flange portions 13 of the terminals 10 are sandwiched in the front-rear direction between the bottom surface 27a of the accommodating recess 27 and the front end surfaces of the electric wire insertion portions 43, and the terminals 10 and the heat transfer member 30 accommodated in the housing 20 are held within the housing 20.

[0025] As a result, the assembly of the connector 1 is completed, and the connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained. The assembled connector 1 is fixed to an attachment portion (not shown) of the connector 1 provided on the vehicle. When charging a battery (not shown) mounted on the vehicle, a mating connector (a so-called charging gun) is fitted into the fitting recess 26 of the connector 1 fixed to the attachment portion of the vehicle. This supplies power to the battery from outside the vehicle via the mating connector, connector 1, and pair of electric wires 2 in that order, and the battery is charged.

[0026] Next, we will explain the effect of providing the heat transfer member 30 to the connector 1. As described above, when charging a battery using the connector 1, the temperature of the pair of terminals 10 in the connector 1 rises due to Joule heat generated by the passage of current. In particular, when fast charging a battery, a large current passes through the pair of terminals 10 in a short period of time, which tends to increase the degree of temperature rise per unit time of the pair of terminals 10.

[0027] In this regard, in the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the terminal insertion hole 32 of the cylindrical portion 31 of the heat transfer member 30 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the terminal connection portion 11 of the terminal 10. As a result, heat generated in the terminal 10 (more specifically, the terminal connection portion 11) during current flow is absorbed by the heat transfer member 30 through the terminal insertion hole 32, so that even when the amount of heat generated by the terminal 10 per unit time is large, such as during rapid charging, a sudden increase in the operating temperature of the terminal 10 can be suppressed and the operating temperature of the terminal 10 can be increased gradually. Furthermore, the outer peripheral side surface 31a of the cylindrical portion 31 of the heat transfer member 30 contacts the inner peripheral side surface of the accommodating recess 27 of the housing 20, and the heat dissipation fin portions 33, 35 of the heat transfer member 30 are arranged at locations where they do not contact the housing 20. As a result, heat is dissipated from the outer peripheral side surface 31a of the heat transfer member 30 to the housing 20 and from the heat dissipation fin portions 33, 35 of the heat transfer member 30 to the outside air, thereby suppressing an increase in the temperature of the heat transfer member 30 itself.

[0028] <Actions and Effects> As described above, according to the connector 1 of the present embodiment, the terminals 10 are inserted into the cylindrical heat transfer member 30, the cylindrical inner surface (terminal insertion hole 32) of the heat transfer member 30 contacts the terminals 10, the cylindrical outer surface (outer peripheral side surface 31 a) of the heat transfer member 30 contacts the housing 20, and the fin structure (heat dissipation fin portions 33, 35) of the heat transfer member 30 is disposed in a position that does not contact the housing 20. As a result, the heat generated in the terminals 10 when current is applied is absorbed by the heat transfer member 30, so that even when the amount of heat generated by the terminals 10 per unit time is large, such as during rapid charging, a sudden increase in the operating temperature of the terminals 10 can be suppressed and the operating temperature of the terminals 10 can be increased gradually. Furthermore, heat dissipation from the cylindrical outer surface (outer peripheral side surface 31 a) of the heat transfer member 30 to the housing 20 and heat dissipation from the fin structure (heat dissipation fin portions 33, 35) of the heat transfer member 30 to the outside air also suppresses an increase in the temperature of the heat transfer member 30 itself. Therefore, the connector according to this embodiment can prevent the operating temperature of the terminals 10 from rising excessively while avoiding an increase in the size of the connector 1.

[0029] Furthermore, the heat dissipation fin portions 33 of the heat transfer member 30 are exposed to a space (terminal accommodating hole 25) provided in the housing 20 for connecting the terminals 10 with the mating terminals, and the heat dissipation fin portions 35 of the heat transfer member 30 are exposed to a space (hollow portion 28) provided in the housing 20 for accommodating the terminals 10 and the heat transfer member 30 in the housing 20. This allows these spaces that are generally present in the connector 1 to be utilized for dissipating heat from the heat transfer member 30 to the outside air.

[0030] <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.

[0031] For example, in the above embodiment, the entire heat transfer member 30 is made of a highly thermally conductive resin or metal, which is a heat transfer material that has better thermal conductivity (i.e., higher thermal conductivity) than the material (e.g., resin) that constitutes the housing 20. Alternatively, the entire heat transfer member 30 may be made of an elastic material (e.g., rubber or highly thermally conductive rubber) that has better elasticity than the material (e.g., resin) that constitutes the housing 20. This allows the terminals 10 to elastically displace (i.e., align) in accordance with the position of the mating terminals when the connector 1 is mated with the mating connector. This prevents the contact area between the terminals 10 and the mating terminals from becoming excessively small due to tolerances (i.e., manufacturing variations) that inevitably occur during the manufacturing process of the connector 1. This prevents the contact resistance between the terminals 10 and the mating terminals from becoming excessively large, thereby reducing the heat generated in the terminals 10 when current is applied.

[0032] 6 and 7, only the inner cylindrical portion 30a, which is a thin-walled cylindrical portion including the terminal insertion hole 32 of the heat transfer member 30 shown in FIG. 4, may be made of the above-mentioned elastic material (e.g., rubber, high thermal conductivity rubber), and the outer cylindrical portion 30b, which is the remaining portion of the heat transfer member 30 shown in FIG. 4 excluding the inner cylindrical portion 30a, may be made of the above-mentioned heat transfer material (e.g., high thermal conductivity resin or metal). In the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the heat transfer member 30 may be formed by integrating the inner cylindrical portion 30a and the outer cylindrical portion 30b by insert molding or the like, or the heat transfer member 30 may be formed by housing the inner cylindrical portion 30a in the outer cylindrical portion 30b. The example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can also achieve the same effects and advantages as those achieved when the entire heat transfer member 30 is formed of the above-mentioned elastic material (e.g., rubber, high thermal conductivity rubber).

[0033] Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the connector 1 according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [4].

[0034] [1] A connector (1) comprising: a terminal (10) to be connected to an electric wire (2); a housing (20) in which the terminal (10) is stored; and a heat transfer member (30) having at least a cylindrical shape in part, the heat transfer member (30) into which the terminal (10) is inserted, The heat transfer member (30) is The heat transfer member (30) has a cylindrical inner surface (32) that contacts the terminal (10) and a cylindrical outer surface (31a) that contacts the housing (20), and has fin structures (33, 35) for heat dissipation at a location that does not contact the housing (20). Connector(1).

[0035] According to the connector having the configuration [1] above, when the terminals are inserted into the cylindrical heat transfer member, the inner surface of the cylindrical heat transfer member contacts the terminals. Furthermore, the outer surface of the cylindrical heat transfer member contacts the housing, and the fin structure of the heat transfer member is positioned in a location that does not contact the housing. This allows the heat transfer member to absorb and store heat generated in the terminals when current is applied. This prevents a sudden increase in the operating temperature of the terminals, even when the terminals generate a large amount of heat per unit time, such as during rapid charging. Furthermore, heat dissipation from the outer surface of the cylindrical heat transfer member to the housing and from the fin structure of the heat transfer member to the outside air also prevents a rise in the temperature of the heat transfer member itself. Therefore, this connector can prevent an excessive increase in the operating temperature of the terminals while avoiding an increase in the connector size.

[0036] [2] The connector (1) described in [1] above, The heat transfer member (30) is The fin structures (33, 35) are provided so as to be exposed to at least one of a space (25) provided in the housing (20) for connecting the terminal (10) with a mating terminal and a space (28) provided in the housing (20) for accommodating the terminal (10) and the heat transfer member (30) in the housing (20). Connector(1).

[0037] According to the connector of the configuration [2] above, the fin structure of the heat transfer member is exposed to at least one of the spaces provided in the housing for connecting the terminals and the mating terminals and the spaces provided in the housing for accommodating the terminals and the heat transfer member, thereby making it possible to utilize these spaces generally present in a connector for dissipating heat from the heat transfer member to the outside air.

[0038] [3] In the connector (1) described in [1] above, The heat transfer member (30) is At least a part of the heat transfer member (30) that is in contact with the terminal (10) is made of an elastic material having greater elasticity than the housing (20). Connector(1).

[0039] [4] In the connector described in [3] above, The heat transfer member (30) is The device has an inner cylindrical portion (30a) made of the elastic material, and an outer cylindrical portion (30b) made of a material different from the elastic material and in which the inner cylindrical portion (30a) is housed. Connector(1).

[0040] According to the connectors having the configurations [3] and [4] above, the heat transfer member is made of an elastic material that is more elastic than the housing, at least at the points where the heat transfer member contacts the terminals. This allows the terminals to elastically displace (i.e., align) according to the positions of the mating terminals when the connectors are mated, preventing the contact area between the terminals and the mating terminals from becoming excessively small due to tolerances (i.e., manufacturing variations) that inevitably occur during the connector manufacturing process. This prevents the contact resistance between the terminals and the mating terminals from becoming excessively large, and reduces the heat generated in the terminals when current is applied. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 connector 2 electric wire 10 terminals 20. Housing 25 Terminal receiving hole (space) 28 Hollow part (space) 30 Heat transfer material 30a Inner cylinder part 30b outer cylinder 31a Outer circumferential side (cylinder outer surface) 32 Terminal insertion hole (cylinder inner surface) 33 Heat dissipation fin section (fin structure) 35 Heat dissipation fin section (fin structure)

Claims

1. A connector comprising: a terminal to be connected to an electric wire; a housing in which the terminal is stored; and a heat transfer member having at least a cylindrical shape in at least a portion thereof, the heat transfer member having the terminal inserted into the cylindrical shape, The heat transfer member is The heat transfer member has a cylindrical inner surface that contacts the terminal and a cylindrical outer surface that contacts the housing, and has a fin structure for heat dissipation at a location that does not contact the housing. connector.

2. 2. The connector of claim 1, The heat transfer member is The fin structure is provided so as to be exposed to at least one of a space provided in the housing for connecting the terminal and a mating terminal and a space provided in the housing for accommodating the terminal and the heat transfer member in the housing. connector.

3. 2. The connector according to claim 1, At least a portion of the heat transfer member, which is in contact with the terminal, is made of an elastic material having greater elasticity than the housing. connector.

4. 4. The connector according to claim 3, The heat transfer member is The device has an inner cylindrical portion made of the elastic material, and an outer cylindrical portion made of a material different from the elastic material and in which the inner cylindrical portion is housed. connector.

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