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, 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 is fixed to the terminal 10 or an electric wire 2 connected to the terminal 10 using a fixing tape 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

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 Laid-Open No. 2016-207392 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 embodiment of the present invention comprises a terminal, a terminal holder for holding the terminal, and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the terminal. The temperature sensor has a temperature detection element, a resin molded portion in which the temperature detection element is embedded, and a clamp portion formed continuously with the resin molded portion. The clamp portion is attached to the terminal so that the resin molded portion faces the outer periphery of the terminal, and is fixed to the terminal or an electric wire connected to the terminal using a fixing member. [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. 2 is a perspective view of the sensor mounting structure before the terminal holder is attached. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sensor mounting structure before the terminal holder is attached. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the sensor mounting structure before the terminal holder is attached. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5. 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 6, 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 main body 21 with a terminal insertion hole 22. A plurality of slits 23 extending along the front-rear direction are formed in the front part of the holder main body 21, and a flange ring 24 is formed in the rear end part of the holder main body 21. The holder main body 21 also has a sensor accommodating portion 25 that accommodates a resin molded portion 32 of a temperature sensor 30 (described later).

[0019] The temperature sensor 30 has a thermistor 31 (see FIG. 6) 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 lower surface of the resin molded portion 32 is formed with a curved surface portion 32a that is curved so as to come into surface contact with the outer periphery of the shrink tube 40.

[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 rearward. The clamp portion 34 has a pair of left and right clamp pieces 34a. The clamp portion 34 is located outside the wire crimping portion 12 of the terminal 10 and is attached to the shrink tube 40 so as to sandwich it from both the left and right sides, and the resin molded portion 32, which is formed by resin-molding the thermistor 31, is in contact with the outer periphery of the shrink tube 40. The clamp portion 34 is fixed to the shrink tube 40 or the wire 2 by, for example, wrapping it with fixing tape 50.

[0022] Furthermore, the resin molded portion 32 formed by resin-molding the thermistor 31 is in contact with the outer periphery of the shrink tube 40. In this embodiment, the curved surface portion 32a formed on the lower surface of the resin molded portion 32 is in surface contact with the outer periphery of the shrink tube 40 attached to the wire crimping portion 12 of the terminal 10. The resin molded portion 32 of the temperature sensor 30 may be in direct contact with the outer periphery of the wire crimping portion 12 of the terminal 10. In other words, the curved surface portion 32a formed on the lower surface of the resin molded portion 32 may be in surface contact with the outer periphery of the wire crimping portion 12 of the terminal 10.

[0023] 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. In addition, a temperature sensor 30 having a clamp portion 34 is attached to the terminal 10, and this clamp portion 34 is fixed to the terminal 10 or the electric wire 2 by wrapping it with fixing tape 50. As a result, the resin molded portion 32 in which the thermistor 31 is resin-molded faces the outer periphery of the terminal 10. Then, by attaching the terminal holder 20 to the terminal 10, the resin molded portion 32 in which the thermistor 31 is resin-molded is accommodated in the sensor accommodating portion 25 of the terminal holder 20.

[0024] 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), a resin molded portion 32 in which the temperature detection element (thermistor 31) is embedded, and a clamp portion 34 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 is fixed to the terminal 10 or the electric wire 2 connected to the terminal 10 using a fixing member (fixing tape 50).

[0025] 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, and 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 is fixed by wrapping the fixing tape 50. This allows the temperature sensor 30 to be fixed to the terminal 10, making it possible to easily fix the temperature sensor 30 having the thermistor 31 without increasing the number of steps.

[0026] 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.

[0027] In the sensor mounting structure 1, the terminal 10 may have a terminal contact portion 11 that contacts a mating terminal and a wire connection portion (wire crimping portion 12) to which the wire 2 is electrically connected. The clamp portion 34 is attached to the terminal 10 so as to sandwich the wire connection portion (wire crimping portion 12) of the terminal 10 from both sides, and the resin mold portion 32 may face the outer periphery of the wire connection portion (wire crimping portion 12) of the terminal 10.

[0028] Resin molded portion 32 in which thermistor 31 is resin-molded is disposed so as to face the outer periphery of wire crimping portion 12 of terminal 10, which is the main heat source, and is located outside wire crimping portion 12. This positions thermistor 31 near the heat-generating portion of terminal 10, making it possible to suppress the discrepancy between the actual temperature and the measured temperature.

[0029] In the sensor mounting structure 1, the resin molded portion 32 may be housed in a sensor housing portion 25 formed in the terminal holder 20.

[0030] Resin molded portion 32 in which thermistor 31 is resin-molded is accommodated in sensor accommodating portion 25 of terminal holder 20, and terminal holder 20 prevents temperature sensor 30 from falling off terminal 10.

[0031] 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]

[0032] 1. Sensor mounting structure 2 electric wire 10 terminals 11 Terminal contact area 12 Wire crimping section 20 Terminal holder 25 Sensor housing 30 Temperature Sensor 31 Thermistor 32 Resin molded part 33 Detection line 34 Clamp section 50 Fixing Tape

Claims

1. The terminal and a terminal holder for holding the terminal; a temperature sensor for detecting 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 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, and is fixed to the terminal or the electric wire connected to the terminal using a fixing member. Sensor mounted structure.

2. The terminal is a terminal contact portion that contacts a mating terminal; and an electric wire connection portion to which the electric wire is electrically connected, the clamping portion is attached to the terminal so as to sandwich the wire connection portion of the terminal from both sides, the resin molded portion faces an outer periphery of the wire connection 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 accommodated in a sensor accommodating portion formed in the terminal holder.

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