Connection structure

Abstract

To provide a connection structure that can suppress the generation of heat in terminals and conductive members without changing the design of the terminals and conductive members.SOLUTION: In a connection structure 1 including a terminal 7 and a conductive member 9 electrically connected to the terminal 7 via a connection portion 23, a heat storage member 13 with a larger heat capacity than the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 is positioned in the connection portion 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection structure. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional connection structure is known that includes a terminal and a conductive member electrically connected to the terminal via a connection part (see Patent Document 1). In this connection structure, the connection part includes a bolt and a nut. In this connection part, the terminal and the conductive member are overlapped with each other, and the bolt and nut are fastened to sandwich the terminal and the conductive member, thereby electrically connecting the terminal and the conductive member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-57197 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In connection structures such as those described in Patent Document 1, the terminals and conductive members generate heat due to the flow of current. To suppress the heat generation between the terminals and conductive members, it is conceivable to provide a portion with a large heat capacity in the terminal or conductive member, which can absorb the heat generated by the portion with a large heat capacity and suppress the heat generation. However, providing a portion with a large heat capacity in the terminal may affect the reliability of the electrical connection with the mating terminal electrically connected to the terminal. On the other hand, increasing the heat capacity of the conductive member increases the size of the conductive member, which increases the layout shape and space required for the conductive member, potentially affecting the layout of surrounding components.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure that can suppress heat generation between a terminal and a conductive member without changing the design of the terminal and the conductive member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connection structure of this embodiment comprises a terminal and a conductive member electrically connected to the terminal via a connection portion, and a heat storage member having a larger heat capacity than the terminal and the conductive member is disposed in the connection portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connection structure that can suppress heat generation in the terminal and the conductive member without changing the design of the terminal and the conductive member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a terminal of the connection structure according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of a fastening member of the connection structure according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a heat storage member of the connection structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the connection structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view of a terminal of another example of the connection structure according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view of a fastening member of another example of the connection structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a heat storage member of the connection structure according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The connection structure according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1 , a connection structure 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a vehicle charging unit to which a charging connector (not shown) of a charging facility for an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or the like is fitted. The vehicle charging unit includes a connector 3 to which the charging connector is fitted. The connector 3 has a housing 5 made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and terminals 7 made of a conductive material housed in the housing 5. The terminals 7 are electrically connected to a power source (not shown) such as a rechargeable battery or a battery mounted on the vehicle via conductive members 9. When the charging connector is fitted into the housing 5 of the connector 3, the terminals 7 are electrically connected to mating terminals (not shown) of the charging connector, thereby charging the power source. In recent years, power sources mounted on vehicles have become increasingly large-capacity in order to improve driving range. High-capacity power sources require a long charging time, and it has been considered to pass a large current through the terminals 7 and conductive members 9 to shorten the charging time. When a large current is passed through the terminals 7 and conductive members 9, the amount of heat generated by the terminals 7 and conductive members 9 increases. Therefore, the connection structure 1 according to this embodiment is designed to suppress heat generation from the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the connection structure 1 includes a terminal 7, a conductive member 9, a fastening member 11, and a heat storage member 13.

[0012] The terminal 7 is made of a conductive material and includes a terminal connection portion 15 and a member connection portion 17. The terminal connection portion 15 is formed in a tab shape on one side in the longitudinal direction. The terminal connection portion 15 is disposed, for example, in the housing 5 of the connector 3, and is electrically connected to a mating terminal of the charging connector when the charging connector is fitted into the housing 5. The member connection portion 17 is formed of a single member that is continuous with the terminal connection portion 15 on the other side in the longitudinal direction. The outer surface of the member connection portion 17 is fixed, for example, by press-fitting into a hole formed in a wall of the housing 5 of the connector 3. A screw hole 19 is formed inside the member connection portion 17, and the opening of the screw hole 19 is disposed on the outer surface of the housing 5.

[0013] The conductive member 9 is made of a conductive material and is configured as a bus bar formed into a rectangular plate-like cross section. By using the conductive member 9 as a bus bar, a larger current can be passed through it compared to an electric wire having a thin core wire, and heat generation when a current flows can be suppressed. One end side of the conductive member 9 in the length direction is electrically connected to, for example, a power source. The other end side of the conductive member 9 in the length direction is provided with an insertion hole 21 formed to penetrate the conductive member 9. The conductive member 9 is electrically connected to the terminal 7 via a connection portion 23.

[0014] The connection portion 23 is composed of the member connection portion 17 of the terminal 7, the insertion hole 21 of the conductive member 9, and the fastening member 11.

[0015] The fastening member 11 has a head 25 and a first screw portion 27 and a second screw portion 29 extending from either side of the head 25. The first screw portion 27 of the fastening member 11 is inserted through the insertion hole 21 of the conductive member 9 and fastened to the screw hole 19 of the component connection portion 17. When the first screw portion 27 is fastened to the screw hole 19 of the component connection portion 17, the head 25 presses the conductive member 9 so as to sandwich the conductive member 9 between the head 25 and the end face of the component connection portion 17. The pressing of the conductive member 9 by the head 25 brings the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 into contact with each other, and the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 are electrically connected. The heat storage member 13 is fastened to the second screw portion 29 of the fastening member 11.

[0016] The heat storage member 13 is made of, for example, a metal material having a larger heat capacity than the terminals 7 and the conductive members 9, and is formed in an annular shape. Because the heat storage member 13 has a larger heat capacity than the terminals 7 and the conductive members 9, it generates less heat than the terminals 7 and the conductive members 9. The cross-sectional area of ​​the heat storage member 13 perpendicular to the current flow direction at the connection portion 23 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the terminals 7 and the conductive members 9 perpendicular to the current flow direction. Here, the cross-sectional area of ​​the connection portion 23 perpendicular to the current flow direction is made up of only the heat storage member 13 and the overlapping portion of the heat storage member 13, the fastening member 11, and the conductive member 9. Compared to the cross-sectional area of ​​the terminals 7 perpendicular to the current flow direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat storage member 13 along the direction perpendicular to the fastening direction or the cross-sectional area of ​​the overlapping portion of the heat storage member 13 and the fastening member 11 along the direction perpendicular to the fastening direction is larger. The cross-sectional area of ​​the conductive member 9 perpendicular to the direction of current flow is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the portion where the heat storage member 13, fastening member 11, and conductive member 9 overlap in the fastening direction. Therefore, even if there is not a large difference in heat capacity between the heat storage member 13 and the terminal 7 and conductive member 9 due to the materials, the heat capacity of the connection portion 23 including the heat storage member 13 can be made larger than the heat capacity of the terminal 7 and conductive member 9. By arranging the heat storage member 13 with a large heat capacity in the connection portion 23, the heat storage member 13 can receive the heat generated in the terminal 7 and conductive member 9, thereby suppressing heat generation in the terminal 7 and conductive member 9. The heat storage member 13 has a contact portion 31 that comes into contact with the conductive member 9, an accommodation portion 33 that accommodates the head portion 25 of the fastening member 11, and a screw hole 35 that is fastened to the second screw portion 29 of the fastening member 11.

[0017] The heat storage member 13 is fixed to the fastening member 11 by fastening the second screw portion 29 of the fastening member 11 to the screw hole 35. Fastening the heat storage member 13 to the fastening member 11 stabilizes the arrangement of the heat storage member 13 in the connection portion 23, allowing the heat generated in the terminals 7 and the conductive member 9 to be stably received by the heat storage member 13. When the heat storage member 13 is fixed to the fastening member 11, the contact portion 31 comes into contact with the conductive member 9. The contact between the contact portion 31 and the conductive member 9 transfers heat generated in the terminals 7 and the conductive member 9 to the heat storage member 13, thereby suppressing heat generation in the terminals 7 and the conductive member 9. In addition, the contact between the contact portion 31 and the conductive member 9 allows the heat generated in the conductive member 9 to be stably transferred to the heat storage member 13. The contact portion 31 is disposed away from the terminals 7. Therefore, the heat storage member 13 does not come into contact with the terminals 7, maintaining the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminals 7 and the mating terminals. Furthermore, when the heat storage member 13 is fixed to the fastening member 11, heat generated in the terminals 7 is transferred via the fastening member 11 through the second screw portion 29 and the screw hole 35 to the heat storage member 13, thereby suppressing heat generation in the terminals 7. In addition, when the heat storage member 13 is fixed to the fastening member 11, the head 25 of the fastening member 11 is housed in the housing portion 33. The inner surface of the housing portion 33 is in contact with the outer surface of the head 25. Therefore, in addition to the fastening of the second screw portion 29 to the screw hole 35, the contact area between the fastening member 11 and the heat storage member 13 is increased, and heat generated in the terminals 7 can be efficiently transferred to the heat storage member 13, further suppressing heat generation in the terminals 7.

[0018] By disposing the heat storage member 13 at the connection portion 23 in this way, there is no need to change the design to increase the heat capacity, such as by increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 that is perpendicular to the direction of current flow. Therefore, there is no need to change the design of the terminal 7, and there is no impact on the reliability of the electrical connection with the mating terminal. As for the conductive member 9, the size of the conductive member 9 does not increase, so the arrangement shape and arrangement space of the conductive member 9 do not increase, and there is no impact on the arrangement layout of surrounding members.

[0019] Such a connection structure 1 includes a terminal 7 and a conductive member 9 electrically connected to the terminal 7 via a connection portion 23. A heat storage member 13 having a larger heat capacity than the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 is disposed in the connection portion 23.

[0020] By disposing the heat storage member 13, which has a large heat capacity, in the connection portion 23, the heat storage member 13 can receive the heat generated in the terminals 7 and the conductive member 9, thereby suppressing heat generation in the terminals 7 and the conductive member 9. Therefore, heat generation in the terminals 7 and the conductive member 9 can be suppressed without changing the design of the terminals 7 and the conductive member 9. Since there is no need to change the design of the terminals 7, there is no impact on the reliability of the electrical connection with the mating terminal. Since the size of the conductive member 9 does not increase, the arrangement shape and arrangement space of the conductive member 9 do not increase, and there is no impact on the arrangement layout of surrounding components.

[0021] Therefore, in such a connection structure 1, heat generation from the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 can be suppressed without changing the design of the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9.

[0022] Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat storage member 13 in the direction perpendicular to the current flow at the connection portion 23 is larger than the cross-sectional areas of the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 in the direction perpendicular to the current flow.

[0023] Therefore, even if there is no significant difference in the heat capacity between the materials of the heat storage member 13 and the terminal 7 and conductive member 9, the heat capacity of the connection portion 23 including the heat storage member 13 can be made larger than the heat capacity of the terminal 7 and conductive member 9.

[0024] The conductive member 9 is a bus bar.

[0025] Therefore, compared to when an electric wire having a thin core is used as the conductive member 9, a large current can be passed through the conductive member 9, and heat generation when a current flows can be suppressed.

[0026] The connection portion 23 also has a fastening member 11 that electrically connects the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 by fastening. The heat storage member 13 is fastened to the fastening member 11.

[0027] By fastening the heat storage member 13 to the fastening member 11, the positioning of the heat storage member 13 at the connection portion 23 can be stabilized, and the heat generated by the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 can be stably received by the heat storage member 13.

[0028] Here, another example of the connection structure according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 8. In a connection structure 101 according to this embodiment, the conductive member 9 and the heat storage member 13 have the same configuration, and the fastening member 103 is a nut. A member connection portion 17 of the terminal 7 is provided with a screw portion 105 as a fastening member that protrudes from the outer surface of the housing 5 of the connector 3. The screw portion 105 is inserted into an insertion hole 21 of the conductive member 9, and a nut as the fastening member 103 is fastened to the screw portion 105. Fastening the fastening member 103 to the screw portion 105 brings the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 into contact with each other, and the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 are electrically connected to each other. Therefore, the connection portion 23 is composed of the member connection portion 17 of the terminal 7, the screw portion 105 as a fastening member, the insertion hole 21 of the conductive member 9, and the fastening member 103. The heat storage member 13 arranged in the connection portion 23 has the screw hole 35 fastened to the screw portion 105, the fastening member 103 accommodated in the accommodation portion 33, and the contact portion 31 brought into contact with the conductive member 9. The inner surface of the accommodation portion 33 is in contact with the outer surface of the fastening member 103.

[0029] Even in such a connection structure 101, the heat storage member 13 with a large heat capacity can be disposed in the connection portion 23. Therefore, the heat generated in the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 can be received by the heat storage member 13, and heat generation in the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9 can be suppressed without changing the design of the terminal 7 and the conductive member 9.

[0030] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

[0031] For example, in the connection structure according to the present embodiment, the terminals are disposed in the housing of the connector, but this is not limiting, and the terminals may be electrically connected directly to mating terminals without being disposed in a housing, etc. In addition, while the conductive member electrically connects the power source and the vehicle charging unit, this is not limiting, and the conductive member may be disposed between any electrical components, for example, between the power source and equipment, between equipment and equipment, etc.

[0032] Furthermore, although the conductive member is a bus bar, it is not limited to this and may be in any form, such as a coated wire with multiple core wires or a single thick core wire covered with an insulating coating. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1,101 Connection structure 7 terminals 9 Conductive materials 11,103,105 Fastening members 13 Heat storage material 23 Connection

Claims

1. The terminal and a conductive member electrically connected to the terminal via a connection portion; Equipped with A connection structure in which a heat storage member having a larger heat capacity than the terminal and the conductive member is disposed in the connection portion.

2. The connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the heat storage member has a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of current flow in the connection portion that is larger than cross-sectional areas perpendicular to the direction of current flow of the terminal and the conductive member.

3. The connection structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conductive member is a bus bar.

4. the connection portion has a fastening member that electrically connects the terminal and the conductive member by fastening; The connection structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat storage member is fastened to the fastening member.

Images