Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of efficiently absorbing heat from a heat generation source and suppressing a rapid rise in temperature.SOLUTION: A connector 1 includes: a connection terminal 20 that is electrically connected to a mating terminal and has one of a female screw part and a male screw part (in the present embodiment, a female screw part 22); a wiring material terminal 30 that is provided at a terminal of a conductive wiring material W and has a hole part 32h that penetrates along an axial direction X of the connection terminal 20; and a heat storage material 40 that has the other of the female screw part and the male screw part (in the present embodiment, a male screw part 42). The connection terminal 20, the wiring material terminal 30, and the heat storage material 40 are fastened while sandwiching the wiring material terminal 30 between the connection terminal 20 and the heat storage material 40 by inserting the male screw part 42 into the hole part 32h along the axial direction X and screwing it into the female screw part 22 in a state where the wiring material terminal 30 is located between the connection terminal 20 and the heat storage material 40 with respect to the axial direction X.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connector including a plurality of terminals and a housing having a terminal accommodating portion that accommodates and holds the terminals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-221612 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The connector described in Patent Document 1 is expected to be able to handle large currents in order to accommodate larger battery capacities and shorter charging times. In this case, when a large current flows between the connectors, the amount of heat generated from high-resistance points increases, and this heat accumulates in the heat source, which can cause a sudden rise in temperature inside the connector.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a connector that can efficiently absorb heat from a heat source and prevent a sudden rise in temperature. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector of the present invention comprises a connection terminal electrically connected to a mating terminal and having either a female thread portion or a male thread portion, a terminal for wiring material provided at the end of a conductive wiring material and having a hole portion penetrating along the axial direction of the connection terminal, and a heat storage material having the other of the female thread portion or the male thread portion, and is characterized in that the connection terminal, the terminal for wiring material, and the heat storage material are fastened together by sandwiching the terminal for wiring material between the connection terminal and the heat storage material with the terminal for wiring material positioned between the connection terminal and the heat storage material in the axial direction, and the male thread portion being inserted into the hole portion along the axial direction and screwed into the female thread portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The connector according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to efficiently absorb heat from a heat source and suppress a sudden rise in temperature. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the height direction of the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a connection terminal applied to the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a rear view showing a schematic configuration of a connection terminal applied to the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the heat storage material applied to the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear view showing a schematic configuration of the heat storage material applied to the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a perspective view for explaining a method of connecting a connection terminal, a wiring material terminal, and a heat storage material that are applied to the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining a method of connecting a connection terminal, a wiring material terminal, and a heat storage material that are applied to the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a cover member applied to the connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the width direction of the connector according to this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] The connector 1 of this embodiment is applied to, for example, a wire harness used in a vehicle such as an automobile, and is used in a connection mechanism for connecting an electric wire to an electric device, electrically connecting the wiring material W to the mating device.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wire harness includes a conductive wiring material W and a connector 1.

[0012] The wiring material W is wired in a vehicle and electrically connects each device. The wiring material W in this embodiment is an insulated electric wire that includes a conductive conductor portion (core wire) and an insulating coating portion that is insulating, and the conductor portion is coated with the insulating coating portion. The conductor portion here is a twisted wire formed by twisting together multiple wires made of a conductive metal. The insulating coating portion is formed, for example, by extrusion molding an insulating resin material (PP, PVC, cross-linked PE, etc., appropriately selected taking into consideration abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, etc.).

[0013] The connector 1 includes a connection terminal 20 electrically connected to a mating terminal, a wiring material terminal 30 provided at an end of the wiring material W and electrically connected to the connection terminal 20, and a heat storage material 40 assembled to the wiring material terminal 30 (see FIG. 2). The connector 1 of this embodiment uses fastening portions (female thread portions or male thread portions) provided on the connection terminal 20 and the heat storage material 40 to fasten the three components with the wiring material terminal 30 sandwiched between the connection terminal 20 and the heat storage material 40, thereby realizing a configuration that can properly absorb heat from the heat source and prevent a sudden rise in temperature. Each component of the connector 1 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11.

[0014] In addition, the wire harness may further include a protector, a grommet, a fixing device, and the like.

[0015] In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, the first direction will be referred to as the "axial direction X," the second direction will be referred to as the "width direction Y," and the third direction will be referred to as the "height direction Z." Here, the axial direction X, width direction Y, and height direction Z are perpendicular to one another. The axial direction X typically corresponds to the axial direction (extension direction) of the connection terminal 20, the fitting direction of the connection terminal 20 with the mating terminal, etc. The width direction Y typically corresponds to the width direction of the housing 10 that accommodates the connection terminal 20, the wiring terminal 30, and the heat storage material 40. The height direction Z typically corresponds to the height direction of the housing 10, etc. Unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description will be described as directions in a state in which the components constituting the connector 1 are assembled.

[0016] Furthermore, the tip side in the axial direction X typically corresponds to the mating connector when the connector 1 is mated with the mating connector on the power source side, and the base side in the axial direction X typically corresponds to the connector 1 side when the connector 1 is mated with the mating connector.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector 1 includes a housing 10, a connection terminal 20, a wiring terminal 30, a heat storage material 40, a cover member 50, a water blocking member 60, and a rear holder 70.

[0018] [housing] The housing 10 is formed from an insulating synthetic resin material, and accommodates and holds inside the connection terminal 20, a wiring material terminal 30 provided at the end of the wiring material W, and a heat storage material 40. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing 10 is composed of a first housing 11 and a second housing 12.

[0019] The first housing 11 accommodates and holds the electrical connection portions 21 of the connection terminals 20, which will be described later. As shown in Fig. 2, the first housing 11 includes an inner housing 111 and an outer housing 112 that accommodates the inner housing 111 inside.

[0020] 3, the inner housing 111 has a terminal accommodating portion 111a and a hood portion 111b. The terminal accommodating portion 111a is formed in a substantially circular tubular shape along the axial direction X and is a portion that accommodates and holds the connection terminal 20 inside. The hood portion 111b is formed in a substantially circular tubular shape along the axial direction X and is a portion that accommodates the terminal accommodating portion 111a inside. Note that the inner housing 111 of this embodiment is provided with a pair of terminal accommodating portions 111a spaced apart along the width direction Y, and each of the terminal accommodating portions 111a accommodates an electrical connection portion 21 of the connection terminal 20.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the outer housing 112 has an outer housing main body 112a and a flange 112b. The outer housing main body 112a is formed in a substantially circular cylindrical shape along the axial direction X and accommodates and holds the inner housing 111 therein. The flange 112b protrudes from the outer surface of the outer housing main body 112a and is fixed to an installation target portion, such as a vehicle body, when the connector 1 is installed in the installation target portion. In this embodiment, the flange 112b is formed in a plate shape along a plane (a plane extending along the width direction Y and the height direction Z) perpendicular to the axial direction X (see FIG. 2). The flange 112b is provided with a collar member 112h that is integrally molded by a molding method such as insert molding (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the first housing 11 of this embodiment is fixed to the installation location by inserting a screw F (see FIG. 2) into a collar member 112h provided on the flange portion 112b of the outer housing 112. Furthermore, when the connector 1 is mated with a mating connector, the first housing 11 can detachably hold the mating connector by accommodating the housing or the like of the mating connector inside the hood portion 111b of the inner housing 111.

[0022] The second housing 12 accommodates and holds the female screw portion 22 of the connection terminal 20 described below, the wiring material terminal 30 provided at the end of the wiring material W, and the heat storage material 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the second housing 12 is configured to include a first main body portion 121 and a second main body portion 122.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the first main body portion 121 has an accommodating portion 121a. The accommodating portion 121a has a first region A1 that communicates with the terminal accommodating portion 111a and a second region A2 that communicates with the first region A1. The first region A1 is formed in a substantially circular tubular shape along the axial direction X, and is a portion that accommodates and holds the female screw portion 22 of the connection terminal 20 inside. The second region A2 is formed in a substantially semi-elliptical tubular shape along the axial direction X, and is a portion that accommodates and holds the member connecting portion 32 of the wiring material terminal 30 that is arranged adjacent to the connection terminal 20 along the axial direction X, and the heat storage material 40 that is arranged adjacent to the wiring material terminal 30. The first main body portion 121 of this embodiment is provided with a pair of accommodation portions 121a spaced apart along the width direction Y, and each accommodation portion 121a accommodates the female screw portion 22 of the connection terminal 20, the member connection portion 32 of the wiring material terminal 30, and the heat storage material 40. The two second regions A2 of the first main body portion 121 are joined together to form a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape (an ellipse with its major axis in the width direction Y and its minor axis in the height direction Z). A plate-shaped partition wall 121b is provided between the second regions A2 of the first main body portion 121 along a plane perpendicular to the width direction Y (a plane extending along the axial direction X and the height direction Z) (see FIG. 11). Therefore, the first main body portion 121 of this embodiment can prevent the wiring material terminals 30 accommodated in the second regions A2 from contacting each other, and can also prevent the heat storage materials 40 from contacting each other.

[0024] 3, the second main body portion 122 has a storage portion 122a. The storage portion 122a has a third region A3 that communicates with the second region A2 of the first main body portion 121, and is formed in a substantially circular tubular shape along the height direction Z, thereby accommodating and holding therein the wiring material connection portion 31 of the wiring material terminal 30 and the end of the wiring material W to which the wiring material terminal 30 is connected (i.e., the end of the terminal-equipped electric wire). Note that the second main body portion 122 of this embodiment is provided with a pair of storage portions 122a spaced apart along the width direction Y, and each of the storage portions 122a accommodates an end of a terminal-equipped electric wire.

[0025] [Connection terminal] The connection terminal 20 is a power terminal formed from a conductive metal material and electrically connected to a mating terminal when the connector 1 is mated with the mating connector. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the connection terminal 20 includes an electrical connection portion 21, a female screw portion 22, and a narrow portion 23.

[0026] 3, the electrical connection portion 21 is provided at the tip side in the axial direction X, and is the portion that connects with the mating terminal when the connector 1 is mated with the mating connector. The electrical connection portion 21 of this embodiment is composed of multiple elastic contact pieces arranged in a ring shape, and can be electrically connected to the mating terminal by inserting the mating terminal into the electrical connection portion 21.

[0027] 3 and 4, the female screw portion 22 is a fastening portion provided on the base end side in the axial direction X. As shown in Fig. 5, the female screw portion 22 of this embodiment is provided at the bottom of the base portion of the connection terminal 20 (the portion connecting each of the elastic contact pieces that make up the electrical connection portion 21), and is fastened by being screwed into a male screw portion 42 of the heat storage material 40, which will be described later.

[0028] 4 and 5, the narrow width portion 23 is provided on the base end side in the axial direction X, and is a portion where the width of the connection terminal (the length in the width direction Y in FIG. 6) is narrowed. The narrow width portion 23 in this embodiment is formed from the back surface of the connection terminal 20 (the surface arranged opposite the wiring material terminal 30 described later) toward the electrical connection portion 21, and is formed in a recessed shape along the axial direction X.

[0029] The shape of the connection terminal 20 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 2 (so-called slotted terminal), and can be changed as appropriate in accordance with the specifications of the mating connector and the specifications of the connector 1.

[0030] [Terminal for wiring material] The wiring material terminal 30 is a flat terminal formed from a conductive metal material and is provided at the end of the wiring material W by being crimped to the conductor portion of the wiring material W. As shown in FIG. 3 , the wiring material terminal 30 is configured to include a wiring material connection portion 31 and a component connection portion 32.

[0031] 3, the wiring material connection portion 31 is provided on the base end side (lower side in the height direction Z), and is a portion that is crimped to the conductor portion (exposed core wire portion) that is exposed when the insulating coating portion of the wiring material W is peeled off, and is a portion that is the main heat source within the connector 1. The wiring material connection portion 31 of this embodiment is formed, for example, by a pair of barrel pieces, and is crimped to the wiring material W by crimping the exposed core wire portion of the wiring material W with the pair of barrel pieces.

[0032] 3, the member connection portion 32 is provided on the tip side (upper side in the height direction Z), and is a portion in which a hole portion 32h is provided that penetrates along the axial direction X. In the member connection portion 32 of this embodiment, the male thread portion 42 of the heat storage material 40 is inserted into the hole portion 32h, and the male thread portion 42 is screwed into the female thread portion 22 of the connection terminal 20, so that the member connection portion 32 is fastened in a state where it is sandwiched between the connection terminal 20 and the heat storage material 40.

[0033] [Heat storage material] The heat storage material 40 is made of a conductive metal material and absorbs and stores heat generated from a heat source. As shown in Figures 3, 6 and 7, the heat storage material 40 includes a heat storage material main body 41, a male screw portion 42, a notch portion 43 and a screw head portion 44.

[0034] The heat storage material main body 41 is a portion that absorbs and stores heat from the connection terminal 20 and the wiring material terminal 30. The heat storage material main body 41 of this embodiment is formed in a substantially circular columnar shape along the axial direction X, as shown in Figures 3, 6 and 7.

[0035] 3 and 6, the male screw portion 42 is a fastening portion formed to protrude from the heat storage material main body portion 41. As shown in Fig. 6, the male screw portion 42 in this embodiment is provided on the front surface of the heat storage material main body portion 41 (the surface arranged opposite the wiring material terminal 30), and is fastened by being screwed into the female screw portion 22 of the connection terminal 20.

[0036] The notch 43 is a recess for avoiding a rib 53 of the cover member 50, which will be described later. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the notch 43 in this embodiment is provided on the back surface 41 a of the heat storage material main body 41 (the surface opposite the front surface of the heat storage material main body 41, which is disposed facing the cover member 50, which will be described later). The notch 43 is formed from the back surface 41 a of the heat storage material main body 41 toward the male screw portion 42, and is formed in a recessed shape along the axial direction X. As shown in FIG. 7 , the notch 43 is provided on the peripheral portion of the heat storage material main body 41, which is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and is formed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction. Therefore, the axial direction X is the depth direction of the notch 43, and the height direction Z is the extension direction. The notches 43 are disposed facing each other between each pair of heat storage materials 40 (see FIG. 11 ).

[0037] The screw head 44 is a protrusion formed on the heat storage material main body 41, and is a portion that is turned using a tool such as a bolt wrench when tightening the male screw portion 42 into the female screw portion 22 of the connection terminal 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the screw head 44 of this embodiment is provided on the back surface 41a of the heat storage material main body 41. As shown in FIG. 6, the screw head 44 is provided on the axis (axis X1) of the male screw portion 42, and is provided so that the axis X2 of the screw head 44 and the axis (axis X1) of the male screw portion 42 coincide with each other. As shown in FIG. 7, the screw head 44 has a hexagonal shape when viewed from the axial direction X. Therefore, in the heat storage material 40 of this embodiment, the male screw portion 42 can be tightened into the female screw portion 22 by tightening the screw head 44. Furthermore, the heat storage material 40 has the male screw portion 42 and the screw head 44 formed integrally with the heat storage material main body 41, so that the heat generated from the connection terminal 20 and the wiring material terminal 30 can be directly absorbed by the male screw portion 42. Therefore, the heat storage material 40 can efficiently absorb heat from the heat source and prevent a sudden rise in temperature.

[0038] It is preferable that the heat storage material 40 be made of a material with a large heat capacity or a material with higher thermal conductivity than other components, and by storing more heat in the heat storage material main body 41, it is possible to more reliably prevent the temperature inside the connector 1 from rising suddenly.

[0039] Furthermore, the above-described connection terminal 20, wiring material terminal 30, and heat storage material 40 are fastened together in a state where the wiring material terminal 30 is positioned between the connection terminal 20 and the heat storage material 40 in the axial direction X (see FIG. 8), with the male screw portion 42 of the heat storage material 40 inserted along the axial direction X into the hole 32h formed in the member connection portion 32 of the wiring material terminal 30, and the male screw portion 42 is screwed into the female screw portion 22 of the connection terminal 20, thereby sandwiching the connection terminal 20 between the heat storage material 40 and the connection terminal 20 (see FIG. 9). Therefore, in the connector 1 of this embodiment, the male screw portion 42 of the heat storage material 40 fastens together members made of metal material, and the surface pressure generated when the wiring material terminal 30 and the heat storage material 40 come into contact with each other can be secured by the axial force of the bolt. Therefore, the connector 1 can connect the wiring material terminal 30 and the heat storage material 40 with low interfacial thermal resistance (i.e., connect the two components with the heat storage material 40 in close contact with the wiring material terminal 30), and by increasing the thermal conductivity between the wiring material terminal 30 and the heat storage material 40, the heat generated in the wiring material terminal 30 can be efficiently absorbed by the heat storage material 40.

[0040] [Cover material] The cover member 50 is made of an insulating synthetic resin material and closes the opening (the opening that connects the second area A2 of the first main body portion 121 to the outside) of the second housing 12 that constitutes the housing 10. As shown in Fig. 10, the cover member 50 includes a cover main body portion 51, a packing attachment portion 52, a rib 53, a recessed portion 54, and a locked portion 55.

[0041] 11, the cover main body portion 51 is a portion that covers the opening of the second housing 12 by being assembled to an end portion (an end portion located on the base end side in the axial direction X) of the first main body portion 121 of the second housing 12. As shown in FIG. 10, the cover main body portion 51 of this embodiment is formed in a plate shape along a plane (a plane extending along the width direction Y and the height direction Z) that is perpendicular to the axial direction X, and is formed in a shape (an ellipse with an axis in the width direction Y and a minor axis in the height direction Z) that matches the first main body portion 121 of the second housing 12. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the cover main body portion 51 is disposed facing the heat storage material 40 accommodated inside the second housing 12, thereby being able to cover the back surface of the heat storage material 40.

[0042] The packing attachment portion 52 is an annular wall portion formed to protrude from the cover main body portion 51, and is a portion to which a cover packing 63, which will be described later, is attached. The packing attachment portion 52 of this embodiment is formed to protrude in the axial direction X, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the packing attachment portion 52 is arranged so as to partially overlap with the heat storage material 40 in the axial direction X, and is arranged so that the screw head 44 is located inside.

[0043] The ribs 53 are plate-like wall portions formed to protrude from the cover main body 51 and are portions disposed between a pair of heat storage materials 40. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the ribs 53 of this embodiment are provided in pairs and formed in a plate shape along a plane perpendicular to the width direction Y (a plane extending along the axial direction X and the height direction Z). As shown in FIG. 11 , the pair of ribs 53 protrude in the axial direction X from the cover main body 51 side toward the heat storage material 40 side and are disposed in a state of fitting into notches 43 provided in the peripheral edge of the heat storage material. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11 , the pair of ribs 53 are disposed in gaps formed by the notches 43 formed in the heat storage material 40 and the partition wall 121b formed in the second housing 12. Therefore, the pair of ribs 53 are disposed so as to overlap the heat storage material 40 on one side and so as to overlap the partition wall 121b formed in the second housing 12 on the other side. Therefore, the connector 1 of this embodiment can ensure sufficient volume for the heat storage material 40 while also ensuring an insulating distance between the heat storage materials 40 (anode and cathode), thereby more appropriately preventing the heat storage materials 40 from being electrically connected to each other.

[0044] The recess 54 is a recess formed by the cover main body 51 and an annular wall portion formed protruding from the cover main body 51, and is a recess for avoiding the screw heads 44 of the heat storage material 40. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the recess 54 of this embodiment is provided inside the packing attachment portion 52. The recess 54 is formed in a shape recessed along the axial direction X, and can accommodate the screw heads 44 of the heat storage material 40 inside. As shown in FIG. 11 , the recess 54 is formed larger than the screw heads 44 of the heat storage material 40, and an air layer L (see FIG. 11 ) can be formed between the heat storage material 40 and the cover member 50. Therefore, the connector 1 of this embodiment can prevent a sudden rise in temperature inside the connector 1 by releasing heat accumulated in the heat storage material 40 into the air layer L.

[0045] Furthermore, a reinforcing portion R is provided between the annular wall portion that forms the packing mounting portion 52 and the annular wall portion that forms the recess 54. As shown in Fig. 10 , the reinforcing portion R in this embodiment is formed by a plurality of ribs that extend from the wall portion that forms the recess 54 toward the wall portion that forms the packing mounting portion 52, and can reinforce the wall portion that forms the packing mounting portion 52 and the wall portion that forms the recess 54 to prevent them from collapsing. Therefore, the connector 1 in this embodiment can prevent the shape of the packing mounting portion 52 from being distorted, and can properly attach the cover member 50 to the housing 10.

[0046] 10, the locked portion 55 is a locked frame portion formed to protrude from the cover main body portion 51, and is a portion that is locked to a claw-shaped locking protrusion formed on the first main body portion 121 of the second housing 12, thereby fixing the cover member 50 to the second housing 12. Note that the locked portions 55 in this embodiment are provided in a pair spaced apart along the width direction Y.

[0047] [Waterstop material] The waterproofing member 60 is made of elastic synthetic rubber and prevents liquids such as water from entering the inside of the connector 1. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the waterproofing member 60 includes a terminal packing 61, a rubber plug 62, and a cover packing 63.

[0048] 2, the terminal packing 61 is formed in an annular shape and is fitted between the electrical connection portion 21 and the female thread portion 22 of the connection terminal 20. As shown in FIG. 3, when the connection terminal 20 is assembled to the second housing 12, the terminal packing 61 of this embodiment is arranged in a compressed state between the outer peripheral surface of the connection terminal 20 inserted through the through hole of the terminal packing 61 and the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating portion 121a of the second housing 12. Therefore, the terminal packing 61 can prevent liquids such as water from entering the terminal accommodating portion 111a of the first housing 11, which communicates with the accommodating portion 121a of the second housing 12.

[0049] 2, the rubber stopper 62 is formed in an annular shape and is attached to the wiring material W. As shown in FIG. 3, the rubber stopper 62 of this embodiment is arranged in a compressed state between the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material W inserted through the through hole of the rubber stopper 62 and the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating portion 122a of the second housing 12 by assembling the end of the wiring material W to the second housing 12. Therefore, the rubber stopper 62 can prevent liquids such as water from entering the inside of the second housing 12.

[0050] 2, the cover gasket 63 is formed in an annular shape and is attached to the cover member 50, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 3, when the cover member 50 is assembled to the second housing 12, the cover gasket 63 of this embodiment is arranged in a compressed state between the outer peripheral surface of the gasket mounting portion 52 of the cover member 50 inserted through the through hole of the cover gasket 63 and the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating portion 121a of the second housing 12. Therefore, the cover gasket 63 can prevent liquids such as water from entering the interior of the second housing 12.

[0051] [Rear holder] The rear holder 70 is formed from an insulating synthetic resin material and holds the rubber plug 62 attached to the wiring material W. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the rear holder 70 includes a rear holder main body 71 and a latched portion 72.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 3, the rear holder main body 71 has a hole 71h penetrating along the height direction Z, and is a part that holds the wiring material W by being assembled to an end (the end located on the lower side in the height direction Z) of the second main body 122 of the second housing 12 with the wiring material W inserted into the hole 71h. Note that the rear holder main body 71 of this embodiment is provided with a pair of hole portions 71h spaced apart along the width direction Y, and the wiring material W is inserted into each of the hole portions 71h. Therefore, the rear holder 70 can hold two wiring materials W.

[0053] The locked portions 72 are locked frame portions formed to protrude from the rear holder main body portion 71, and are portions that fix the rear holder 70 to the second housing 12 by being locked with claw-shaped locking protrusions formed on the second main body portion 122 of the second housing 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In this embodiment, two locked portions 72 are provided for one rear holder main body portion 71, for a total of four locked portions 72.

[0054] The connector 1 described above comprises a connection terminal 20 electrically connected to a mating terminal and having one of a female screw portion or a male screw portion (female screw portion 22 in this embodiment), a wiring material terminal 30 provided at an end of a conductive wiring material W and having a hole portion 32h penetrating along the axial direction X of the connection terminal 20, and a heat storage material 40 having the other of the female screw portion or the male screw portion (male screw portion 42 in this embodiment), and the connection terminal 20, the wiring material terminal 30, and the heat storage material 40 are fastened together by inserting the male screw portion 42 into the hole portion 32h along the axial direction X and screwing it into the female screw portion 22 with the wiring material terminal 30 positioned between the connection terminal 20 and the heat storage material 40 in the axial direction X.

[0055] According to this configuration, the heat storage material 40 has a fastening portion (female screw portion 22) for the connection terminal 20, and thus can directly absorb heat generated from the connection terminal 20 and the wiring material terminal 30. Therefore, the connector 1 of this embodiment can efficiently absorb heat from the heat source and suppress a sudden rise in temperature. Furthermore, because the connector 1 can suppress a sudden rise in temperature, a cooling structure is not required, and the temperature requirements can be met without increasing the diameter of the wiring material W.

[0056] Furthermore, in the connector 1, the fastening portion (female screw portion 22) for the connection terminal 20 is integrally provided in the heat storage material 40, so there is no need to prepare separate fastening members such as bolts, and this reduces the number of parts. Therefore, the connector 1 can suppress an increase in size while satisfying the temperature requirements.

[0057] Furthermore, the connection terminal 20 described above has a female screw portion 22, and the heat storage material 40 has a male screw portion 42. With this configuration, the heat storage material 40 can directly absorb heat generated from the connection terminal 20 and the wiring material terminal 30 through the male screw portion 42. Therefore, the connector 1 of this embodiment can efficiently absorb heat from the heat source and prevent a sudden rise in temperature. Furthermore, because the connector 1 can prevent a sudden rise in temperature, a cooling structure is not required, and the temperature requirements can be met without increasing the diameter of the wiring material W.

[0058] The connector 1 described above further includes a housing 10 that accommodates the connection terminals 20, the wiring terminals 30, and the heat storage material 40 inside, and a cover member 50 that is assembled to the housing 10 and covers the back surface of the heat storage material 40 located on the opposite side to the wiring terminals 30 side. The connection terminals 20, the wiring terminals 30, and the heat storage material 40 are provided in pairs along a width direction Y that intersects with the axial direction X, and the heat storage material 40 is provided along the periphery of the heat storage material 40. The cover member 50 has a pair of ribs 53 formed to protrude toward the heat storage material 40, the ribs 53 being disposed between the pair of heat storage materials 40, the notches 43 being disposed facing each other between the pair of heat storage materials 40, and the ribs 53 being disposed in a state of being inserted into the notches 43 of the heat storage materials 40. According to this configuration, the pair of ribs 53 are disposed to overlap the notches 43 formed in the heat storage materials 40. Therefore, the connector 1 of this embodiment can ensure an insulating distance between the heat storage materials 40 while ensuring a sufficient volume for the heat storage materials 40, thereby more appropriately preventing the heat storage materials 40 from being electrically connected to each other.

[0059] Furthermore, the cover member 50 described above has a recess 54 that partially accommodates the heat storage material 40. With this configuration, the volume of the heat storage material 40 can be increased, thereby increasing the amount of heat absorption by the heat storage material 40. Therefore, the connector 1 of this embodiment can store more heat in the heat storage material 40, thereby more reliably suppressing a sudden rise in temperature inside the connector 1.

[0060] The connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0061] For example, the number of the connection terminals 20, the wiring terminals 30, and the heat storage materials 40 is not particularly limited as long as there are a plurality of them.

[0062] Furthermore, although the heat storage material 40 has been described as being formed from a metal material, the constituent material of the heat storage material 40 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that can absorb and store heat generated from the heat source, and may be a material other than a metal material (for example, a resin material).

[0063] Furthermore, the shape of the heat storage material main body 41 of the heat storage material 40 is not particularly limited.

[0064] Furthermore, the shape of the screw head 44 of the heat storage material 40 shown in Figure 6 is the shape of a bolt head, but the shape of the screw head 44 is not particularly limited as long as it is a shape that allows the male screw portion 42 to be tightened into the female screw portion 22.

[0065] In addition, in the above explanation, it was explained that the connection terminal 20 is provided with a female screw portion 22 and the heat storage material 40 is provided with a male screw portion 42, but it is also possible that the connection terminal 20 is provided with a male screw portion and the heat storage material 40 is provided with a female screw portion.

[0066] Furthermore, the connector 1 according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 connector 10. Housing 20 Connection terminal 22 Female thread 30 Terminal for wiring material 32h hole 40 Heat storage material 42 Male thread 50 Cover member 53 Ribs 54 Recess W Routing material X-axis direction Y width direction Z height direction

Claims

1. a connection terminal electrically connected to the mating terminal and having either a female screw portion or a male screw portion; a terminal for wiring material provided at an end of the conductive wiring material and having a hole portion penetrating along the axial direction of the connection terminal; a heat storage material having the other of the female screw portion or the male screw portion, The connection terminal, the wiring terminal, and the heat storage material are fastened together by inserting the male screw portion into the hole along the axial direction and screwing it into the female screw portion, with the wiring terminal positioned between the connection terminal and the heat storage material in the axial direction. connector.

2. The connection terminal has a female screw portion, The heat storage material has a male thread portion. The connector according to claim 1 .

3. a housing that accommodates the connection terminal, the wiring terminal, and the heat storage material therein; a cover member that is attached to the housing and covers a back surface of the heat storage material located on the opposite side to the wiring material terminal side, The connection terminal, the wiring terminal, and the heat storage material are provided in pairs along a width direction intersecting with the axial direction, Each of the heat storage materials has a notch provided on a peripheral edge of the heat storage material, formed from the back surface toward the wiring terminal side, and recessed along the axial direction, The cover member has a pair of ribs formed to protrude toward the heat storage material, The ribs are each disposed between a pair of the heat storage materials, The cutout portions are disposed facing each other between the pair of heat storage materials, The ribs are arranged so as to fit into the cutouts of the heat storage material.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The cover member has a recess that partially accommodates the heat storage material. The connector according to claim 3.

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