Sensor mounted structure

Abstract

To provide a sensor mounted structure which can suppress deviation between an actual temperature and a measured temperature by arranging a temperature detection element in the vicinity of a heat generation part generated at a terminal, and facilitates work for fixing a temperature sensor including the temperature detection element.SOLUTION: A sensor mounted structure 1 includes a terminal 10, a terminal holder 20 for holding the terminal 10, and a temperature sensor 30 for detecting the temperature of the terminal 10. The temperature sensor 30 has a thermistor 31, a resin mold part 32 where the thermistor 31 is embedded, a detection line 33 which is connected to the thermistor 31 and projects from the resin mold part 32, and a clamp part 34 continuously formed with the resin mold part 32. The clamp part 34 is mounted on the terminal 10 so that the resin mold part 32 faces the outer periphery of the terminal 10, and the detection line 33 is held on a detection line holding part 25 formed on the terminal holder 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Charging connectors have been used to supply power (charge) batteries mounted on vehicles such as electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles from outside the vehicle. These types of charging connectors are equipped with temperature sensors (thermistors, etc.) to detect heat generated at the terminals when current is applied (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-192482 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a sensor mounting structure, if the heat-generating part at the terminal is far from the temperature detection element such as a thermistor, there is a possibility that a discrepancy will occur between the actual temperature and the measured temperature. Furthermore, if the work of fixing the temperature sensor including the temperature detection element is complicated, it may result in an increase in labor costs.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sensor mounting structure that can suppress the discrepancy between the actual temperature and the measured temperature by locating the temperature detection element near the heat-generating portion of the terminal, and that can facilitate the work of fixing the temperature sensor including the temperature detection element. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A sensor mounting structure according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a terminal, a terminal holder that holds the terminal, and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the terminal, wherein the temperature sensor has a temperature detection element, a resin molded portion in which the temperature detection element is embedded, a detection wire connected to the temperature detection element and protruding from the resin molded portion, and a clamp portion formed continuous with the resin molded portion, wherein the clamp portion is attached to the terminal so that the resin molded portion faces the outer periphery of the terminal, and the detection wire is held in a detection wire holding portion formed in the terminal holder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, by arranging the temperature detection element near the heat-generating portion at the terminal, it is possible to suppress the discrepancy between the actual temperature and the measured temperature, and it is also possible to provide a sensor mounting structure that makes it easy to fix a temperature sensor including a temperature detection element. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a sensor mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor mounting structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sensor mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the sensor mounting structure according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The sensor mounting 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] The sensor mounting structure according to this embodiment can be applied to, for example, a charging connector used when charging a battery mounted on a vehicle.

[0011] A connector (for example, a charging connector) according to this embodiment has a sensor mounting structure 1.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the sensor mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment includes a terminal 10, a terminal holder 20, and a temperature sensor 30.

[0013] The terminal 10 is also called a power terminal. The terminal 10 has a terminal contact portion 11 into which a mating terminal (not shown) of a mating connector (not shown) is fitted, a wire crimping portion 12 into which the electric wire 2 is crimped, and an intermediate connecting portion 13 that connects the terminal contact portion 11 and the wire crimping portion 12. The terminal contact portion 11 is electrically connected to the mating terminal when the mating terminal is fitted. The wire crimping portion 12 is also called a wire connecting portion, and is electrically connected to the electric wire 2 when the core wire 3 of the electric wire 2 is crimped to the terminal contact portion 11.

[0014] The electric wire 2 has a conductive core wire 3 and an insulating coating 4 that covers the core wire 3. The core wire 3 is configured by bundling together a plurality of conductive metal wires made of a metal material such as copper. At the end of the electric wire 2, the insulating coating 4 is removed to expose the core wire 3, and this exposed core wire 3 is crimped to a terminal 10.

[0015] The terminal contact portion 11 is formed in a rod shape. On the other hand, the terminal contact portion of the mating terminal (not shown) is formed in a box shape or a cylindrical shape, and the terminal contact portion 11 is fitted into the terminal contact portion of this mating terminal.

[0016] The wire crimping portion 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has an opening at the rear end face. The core wire 3 of the electric wire 2 is inserted into the wire crimping portion 12 from the rear end opening, and the inserted core wire 3 is crimped to the wire crimping portion 12 by, for example, crimping. The wire crimping portion 12 is the electrical connection point between the terminal 10 and the electric wire 2. In addition, a shrink tube 40 is attached to the wire crimping portion 12, and the connection point between the terminal 10 and the electric wire 2 is waterproofed by the shrink tube 40.

[0017] The intermediate connector 13 has a solid structure. A plurality of ribs 14 (two in this embodiment) are formed on the outer periphery of the intermediate connector 13 at intervals in the front-rear direction, and a recessed groove 15 extending in the circumferential direction is formed between adjacent ribs 14.

[0018] The terminal holder 20 is also referred to as a rear holder. The terminal holder 20 has a holder body 21 with a terminal insertion hole 22. A plurality of slits 23 extending in the front-to-rear direction are formed in the front part of the holder body 21. A flange ring 24 and a detection wire holding portion 25 that holds a detection wire 33 of a temperature sensor 30 (described later) are formed in the rear end part of the holder body 21.

[0019] The temperature sensor 30 has a thermistor 31 (see FIG. 5) as a temperature detection element, a resin molded portion 32 in which the thermistor 31 is embedded, and a detection wire 33 that is electrically connected to the thermistor 31 and is drawn out and protrudes from the resin molded portion 32. The resin molded portion 32 is also provided with a clamp portion 34 that is formed integrally with the resin molded portion 32. Furthermore, the bottom surface of the resin molded portion 32 is formed with a curved portion 32a that is curved so as to come into surface contact with the outer periphery of the intermediate connecting portion 13 of the terminal 10.

[0020] The temperature detection element is not particularly limited to the thermistor 31. That is, an element other than the thermistor 31 may be used as the temperature detection element. In other words, the temperature detection element may be any element whose output value changes according to the temperature.

[0021] The clamp portion 34 of the temperature sensor 30 protrudes from the lower end of the resin molded portion 32 and extends downward. The clamp portion 34 has a pair of left and right clamp pieces 34a. The clamp portion 34 is attached to the intermediate connecting portion 13 of the terminal 10 so as to sandwich the intermediate connecting portion 13 from both the left and right sides, and the resin molded portion 32, which is formed by resin-molding the thermistor 31, is in direct contact with the outer periphery of the intermediate connecting portion 13 of the terminal 10. In this embodiment, a curved surface portion 32a formed on the lower surface of the resin molded portion 32 and the outer periphery of the intermediate connecting portion 13 of the terminal 10 are in surface contact. The detection wire 33 drawn out from the resin molded portion 32 of the temperature sensor 30 is held by the detection wire holding portion 25 of the terminal holder 20.

[0022] In the sensor mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment, first, a terminal-crimped electric wire is prepared by crimping an electric wire 2 to a terminal 10, and then a shrink tube 40 is attached to this terminal-crimped electric wire. Then, the terminal holder 20 is attached to the terminal 10, and the temperature sensor 30 having a clamp portion 34 is attached to the terminal 10, so that the resin molded portion 32 in which the thermistor 31 is resin-molded faces the outer periphery of the terminal 10. Then, the detection wire 33 drawn out from the thermistor 31 is held by the detection wire holding portion 25 of the terminal holder 20.

[0023] As described above, the sensor mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment includes the terminal 10, the terminal holder 20 that holds the terminal 10, and the temperature sensor 30 that detects the temperature of the terminal 10. The temperature sensor 30 has a temperature detection element (thermistor 31) and a resin molded portion 32 in which the temperature detection element (thermistor 31) is embedded. The temperature sensor 30 has a detection wire 33 that is connected to the temperature detection element (thermistor 31) and protrudes from the resin molded portion 32, and a clamp portion 34 that is formed continuously with the resin molded portion 32. The clamp portion 34 is attached to the terminal 10 so that the resin molded portion 32 faces the outer periphery of the terminal 10, and the detection wire 33 is held by a detection wire holding portion 25 formed in the terminal holder 20.

[0024] In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 30 has a resin molded portion 32 in which the thermistor 31 is embedded and a clamp portion 34 formed integrally with the resin molded portion 32. The clamp portion 34 is attached to the terminal 10 so that the resin molded portion 32 faces the outer periphery of the terminal 10. This positions the thermistor 31 near a heat-generating portion of the terminal 10, making it possible to suppress discrepancies between the actual temperature and the measured temperature. The clamp portion 34 is also attached to the terminal 10 so that the resin molded portion 32 faces the outer periphery of the terminal 10, and the detection wire 33 connected to the thermistor 31 and protruding from the resin molded portion 32 is held by the detection wire holding portion 25 of the terminal holder 20. This allows the temperature sensor 30 to be fixed to the terminal 10, facilitating the process of fixing the temperature sensor 30 having the thermistor 31 without increasing the number of steps.

[0025] According to the present embodiment, by arranging the temperature detection element near the heat generating portion of the terminal 10, it is possible to suppress the discrepancy between the actual temperature and the measured temperature, and it is also possible to provide a sensor mounting structure 1 that makes it easy to fix the temperature sensor 30 including the temperature detection element.

[0026] In the sensor mounting structure 1, the terminal 10 may have a terminal contact portion 11 that contacts a mating terminal, a wire connection portion (wire crimping portion 12) to which the wire 2 is electrically connected, and an intermediate coupling portion 13 that couples the terminal contact portion 11 and the wire connection portion (wire crimping portion 12). The clamp portion 34 is attached to the terminal 10 so as to sandwich the intermediate coupling portion 13 of the terminal 10 from both sides, and the resin mold portion 32 may face the outer periphery of the intermediate coupling portion 13 of the terminal 10.

[0027] The resin molded portion 32 in which the thermistor 31 is resin-molded is disposed so as to face the outer periphery of the intermediate connecting portion 13 of the terminal 10, and is positioned outside the intermediate connecting portion 13. This positions the thermistor 31 near the heat-generating portion of the terminal 10, making it possible to suppress the discrepancy between the actual temperature and the measured temperature.

[0028] In the sensor mounting structure 1, the resin molded portion 32 may be in direct contact with the outer periphery of the terminal 10.

[0029] The resin molded part 32 in which the thermistor 31 is resin-molded is positioned so that it is in direct contact with the outer periphery of the terminal 10, which is the main heat source, allowing for highly accurate temperature measurement and reducing the discrepancy between the actual temperature and the measured temperature.

[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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1. Sensor mounting structure 2 electric wire 10 terminals 11 Terminal contact area 12 Wire crimping section 13 Intermediate connection 20 Terminal holder 25 Detection line holding part 30 Temperature Sensor 31 Thermistor 32 Resin molded part 33 Detection line 34 Clamp section

Claims

1. The terminal and a terminal holder for holding the terminal; a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the terminal; The temperature sensor A temperature detection element; a resin molded portion in which the temperature detection element is embedded; a detection wire connected to the temperature detection element and protruding from the resin molded portion; a clamp portion formed continuously with the resin mold portion, the clamping portion is attached to the terminal so that the resin molded portion faces the outer periphery of the terminal, The detection wire is held in a detection wire holding portion formed in the terminal holder. Sensor mounted structure.

2. The terminal is a terminal contact portion that contacts a mating terminal; an electric wire connection portion to which the electric wire is electrically connected; an intermediate connecting portion connecting the terminal contact portion and the electric wire connecting portion, the clamping portion is attached to the terminal so as to sandwich the intermediate connecting portion of the terminal from both sides, The resin molded portion faces an outer periphery of the intermediate connecting portion of the terminal. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 1 .

3. 3. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the resin molded portion is in direct contact with an outer periphery of the terminal.

Images