Electrical connection component

Abstract

To provide an electric connection component capable of regulating a posture of an external terminal when the external terminal is fastened to a conductor of the electric connection component.SOLUTION: An electrical connection component 1 includes a conductor 10, a housing 20 having a hole 24 into which the conductor 10 is inserted, a fastener 30,40 for fastening an external terminal 60 to the conductor 10, and a holder 50 that holds a fastener 30 and is attached to the housing 20. The holder 50 has a pair of support portions 53 arranged so as to sandwich the external terminal 60 in the circumferential direction around the fastening shaft 32 of the fastener 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connection component that includes a conductor, a housing having a hole into which the conductor is inserted, a fastener for fastening an external terminal to the conductor, and a holder that holds the fastener and is attached to the housing. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electrical connection components (e.g., so-called terminal blocks) have been proposed in which a conductor such as a bus bar is fixed to a resin housing. This type of electrical connection component can be used to configure a power supply circuit for a vehicle, etc. For example, one conventional electrical connection component has a resin housing and a metal bus bar fixed to the housing, and is attached to the wall of an equipment box to configure a circuit that provides electrical conduction between the inside and outside of the equipment box (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-068087 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the electrical connection components of the above type, the external terminals (e.g., double-ended terminals) are generally fastened to the bus bars of the electrical connection components using bolts, nuts, etc., to electrically connect the bus bars and the external terminals. However, during such fastening, the external terminals may become misaligned in the direction in which the bolts or nuts rotate (hereinafter referred to as "co-rotation"), which may cause the direction in which the external terminals extend from the electrical connection component to differ from the designed direction. Such co-rotation of the external terminals affects the direction of the electric wires extending from the external terminals and the routing of the electric wires, and is therefore desirably suppressed as much as possible.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connection part that can regulate the attitude of an external terminal when the external terminal is fastened to a conductor included in the electrical connection part. [Means for solving the problem]

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

[0007] An electrical connection part comprising: a conductor; a housing having a hole into which the conductor is inserted; a fastener for fastening an external terminal to the conductor; and a holder for holding the fastener and attached to the housing, The holder is a pair of support portions disposed to sandwich the external terminal in a circumferential direction around a fastening axis of the fastener; It must be an electrical connection part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the electrical connection part of the present invention, a pair of support parts of a holder attached to a housing are arranged to sandwich the external terminal in the circumferential direction around the fastening axis of the fastener. As a result, when the external terminal is fastened to a conductor, the pair of support parts suppress the external terminal from displacing in the fastening direction (i.e., co-rotating). Therefore, the electrical connection part of the present invention can regulate the orientation of the external terminal when the external terminal is fastened to a conductor included in the electrical connection part.

[0009] Furthermore, as another effect, because the holder functions to hold the fastener, the structure of the housing can be simplified compared to when the housing holds the fastener. This allows the structure of the molding die to be simplified, for example, when the housing is injection molded. For example, the molding die need only separate in one direction, the direction for forming the hole for inserting the conductor in the housing (i.e., the direction in which the hole extends). As a result, the manufacturing process can be simplified compared to when a molding die with multiple separation directions is used. In other words, the degree of freedom in the design of the housing can be improved. In addition, it is also possible to avoid the housing becoming larger due to excessive concentration of functions in the housing.

[0010] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention set forth below, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an external terminal connected to an end of an electric wire is fastened to a bus bar of an electrical connection part according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connection part shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of the electrical connection part shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a pair of support portions of a holder are arranged asymmetrically with respect to an imaginary line extending from a fastening shaft in a modified example. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a top view of the modified example shown in FIG. 8, showing a state in which the external terminals are intentionally arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the imaginary line before fastening. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 9, showing a state in which the external terminal is rotated and its posture is restricted so that it assumes a posture parallel to the imaginary line as a result of the fastening work of the external terminal being performed from the state shown in Figure 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] <Embodiment> An electrical connection part 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The electrical connection part 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle, for example, and used as a so-called "terminal block" to configure a power supply circuit for the vehicle. The electrical connection part 1 functions to electrically connect an external terminal 60 connected to an end of an electric wire 70 extending from an electrical component (not shown) mounted on the vehicle to a mating electrical component (not shown) mounted on the vehicle via a bus bar 10. As will be clear from this description, the external terminal 60 is not included in the electrical connection part 1.

[0013] 2, the electric wire 70 is composed of a conductor core wire 71 and an insulating outer sheath 72 that covers the conductor core wire 71. The metal external terminal 60 is a so-called open-end terminal, and integrally includes a circular flat fastening portion 61 with a bolt insertion hole formed therein, and a crimping portion 62 that is fixed to the conductor core wire 71 exposed at the end of the electric wire 70 by crimping.

[0014] For the sake of convenience, the following definitions are used for "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" as shown in FIG. 1 and elsewhere. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "upper-lower direction" are perpendicular to one another. The front-rear direction, left-right direction, and upper-lower direction do not necessarily have to coincide with the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and upper-lower direction of the vehicle on which the electrical connection component 1 is mounted. The "upper-lower direction" coincides with the "axial direction of the fastening shaft" of the present invention, and the "rear" direction coincides with the "predetermined direction away from the fastener" of the present invention.

[0015] 2, the electrical connection part 1 mainly includes a bus bar 10, a housing 20 having a bus bar insertion hole 24 (see FIG. 4, etc.) into which the bus bar 10 is inserted, a bolt 30 and a nut 40 for fastening an external terminal 60 to the bus bar 10, and a holder 50 that holds the bolt 30 and is attached to the housing 20. The configuration of each part that makes up the electrical connection part 1 will be described below in order.

[0016] First, the busbar 10 will be described. The busbar 10 is formed by punching, bending, and the like on a metal plate, and has a generally rectangular flat plate shape that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction, as shown in FIG. 2. A bolt insertion hole 11 and a bolt insertion hole 12 that penetrate in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) are formed at the rear end and the front end of the busbar 10, respectively. A male thread portion 32 (see FIG. 2) of a bolt 30 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 11 (see FIG. 4), and a male thread portion (not shown) of a bolt on a mating electrical component is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 12. A locking hole 13 that penetrates in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) is formed in the busbar 10 adjacent to the rear side of the bolt insertion hole 12. A locking protrusion 26 of a locking piece 25 (described later) of the housing 20 is engaged with the locking hole 13 (see FIG. 4).

[0017] Next, the housing 20 will be described. The housing 20 is a resin molded body, and as shown in FIG. 2, includes a main body 21 in the shape of a substantially rectangular box that opens rearward and upward. The main body 51 of the holder 50 (see FIG. 2, etc.) is housed inside the main body 21. As shown in FIG. 4, an accommodation groove 23 that is recessed forward and opens rearward is formed on the inner surface (rear surface) of the front wall 22 of the main body 21 (see FIG. 5). A rubber O-ring 80 that is disposed around the outer periphery of the busbar 10 is housed in the accommodation groove 23. The O-ring 80 serves to seal the annular gap between the busbar 10 and the accommodation groove 23.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 4, a bus bar insertion hole 24 penetrating the front side wall 22 in the front-rear direction is formed in the groove bottom wall of the accommodation groove 23. The bus bar 10 is to be inserted into the bus bar insertion hole 24. A cantilever-shaped locking piece 25 protruding forward is provided in an upper region of the front opening edge of the bus bar insertion hole 24 in the front side wall 22, and a locking protrusion 26 is formed at the tip end (free end) of the locking piece 25.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , a pair of left and right flanges 27 protruding outward in the left-right direction are formed on both left and right end portions of the front wall 22 of the main body 21. Each of the pair of left and right flanges 27 has a bolt insertion hole formed therethrough in the front-rear direction. The pair of left and right flanges 27 function as fastening portions that fasten the housing 20 to a mating electrical component that is disposed in front of the housing 20 and mated with the housing 20. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 , an annular groove 28 is formed on the front end surface of the front wall 22 of the main body 21 so as to surround the bus bar 10 protruding forward from the bus bar insertion hole 24, and a rubber O-ring 90 is accommodated in the groove 28. The O-ring 90 functions to seal a gap between the housing 20 and the mating electrical component that are fitted together.

[0020] Next, the holder 50 will be described. The holder 50 is a resin molded body, and as shown in FIG. 2, includes a main body 51 having a generally rectangular cylindrical shape that extends in the front-rear direction and opens upward. The rear end of the busbar 10 is inserted into the main body 51, and the fastening portion 61 of the external terminal 60 is disposed therein (see FIG. 4, etc.). A bolt holding portion 52 that penetrates in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) is formed in the bottom wall (lower wall) of the main body 51. The bolt holding portion 52 is a rectangular through-hole that corresponds to the rectangular head 31 of the metal bolt 30. The head 31 of the bolt 30 is held in the bolt holding portion 52 so as not to rotate relative to the bolt (see FIG. 4).

[0021] 2 and 3, a pair of left and right support portions 53 each having a plate shape and extending rearward is provided on both left and right edge portions of the rear end of the main body portion 51, and a flat extending plate portion 56 extending rearward is provided on the lower edge portion of the rear end of the main body portion 51. The crimping portion 62 of the external terminal 60 is sandwiched between the pair of left and right support portions 53 (see FIGS. 1, 3, and 6). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, it is not the front and rear end portions of the crimping portion 62 that have a shape that widens as they approach the terminal (so-called bell-mouth portions), but rather a portion of the crimping portion 62 whose width in the left-right direction is uniform in the front-to-rear direction, such as the central portion, that is sandwiched between the pair of left and right support portions 53.

[0022] Specifically, each of the pair of left and right support portions 53 includes a first portion 54 extending rearward from an upper region of a side edge at the rear end of the main body portion 51, and a second portion 55 extending rearward from a lower region of the side edge at the rear end of the main body portion 51 to connect the first portion 54 and the extending plate portion 56. As shown in FIG. 7 , the first portion 54 includes a connecting portion 57 extending rearward and inward in the left-right direction from the side edge at the rear end of the main body portion 51, and a tip portion 58 extending rearward from the extending end of the connecting portion 57 in parallel with the front-rear direction. The thickness of the tip portion 58 is thinner than the thickness of the connecting portion 57. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 , the second portion 55 has a curved shape that protrudes outward in the left-right direction when viewed from the rear, and extends in the front-rear direction to connect the first portion 54 and the extending plate portion 56 across the front-rear direction. The tip ends 58 of the pair of left and right first portions 54 are arranged to face the crimping portion 62 of the external terminal 60 and sandwich the crimping portion 62 (see FIG. 7). The configuration of each component that constitutes the electrical connection part 1 has been described above.

[0023] Next, we will explain the procedure for assembling the electrical connection part 1. To assemble the electrical connection part 1, first, the rear end part of the busbar 10 is inserted into the main body part 51 of the holder 50 from the front side, and the busbar 10 is positioned so that the bolt insertion holes 11 of the busbar 10 overlap the bolt holding parts 52 of the holder 50.

[0024] Next, the male thread portion 32 of the bolt 30 is inserted from below into the bolt holding portion 52 of the holder 50 and the bolt insertion hole 11 of the bus bar 10, in this order, so that the head 31 of the bolt 30 is held by the bolt holding portion 52 (see FIG. 4 ). After that, an O-ring 80 is attached to the outer periphery of the bus bar 10 protruding forward from the main body portion 51 of the holder 50, and then the tip end of the bus bar 10 is inserted into the bus bar insertion hole 24 of the housing 20 from the rear side, and the main body portion 51 of the holder 50 is inserted into (fitted with) the main body portion 21 of the housing 20. Then, the front end portion of the main body portion 51 of the holder 50 abuts against the front wall 22 of the main body portion 21 of the housing 20, and the locking protrusions 26 of the locking pieces 25 of the housing 20 engage with the locking holes 13 of the bus bar 10, thereby completing the assembly of the electrical connection part 1.

[0025] When the electrical connection component 1 is in an assembled state, the engagement between the locking hole 13 of the busbar 10 and the locking protrusion 26 of the locking piece 25 of the housing 20 prevents the busbar 10 (i.e., the holder 50) from slipping out (separating) backward from the housing 20. Furthermore, an O-ring 80 disposed on the outer periphery of the busbar 10 is accommodated in the accommodation groove 23 of the housing 20, and the O-ring 80 seals the annular gap between the busbar 10 and the accommodation groove 23 (see FIG. 5). As a result, the O-ring 80 liquid-tightly seals the path communicating between the inside and outside of the housing 20 through the gap between the busbar insertion hole 24 of the housing 20 and the busbar 10. Furthermore, the O-ring 80 is disposed in the accommodation space S defined between the accommodation groove 23 of the housing 20 and the main body 51 of the holder 50, but at a position where it does not come into contact with the main body 51 of the holder 50 (see FIG. 5). As a result, for example, when the electric wire 70 extending from the external terminal 60 is pulled, even if the external force caused by the pulling acts on the holder 50, the holder 50 is not in contact with the O-ring 80, and therefore the O-ring 80 is unlikely to shift position.

[0026] To electrically connect the external terminal 60 to the electrical connection part 1, the male thread portion 32 of the bolt 30 protruding upward from the bolt insertion hole 11 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole of the fastening portion 61 of the external terminal 60 connected to the electric wire 70, and the crimped portion 62 of the external terminal 60 (more specifically, the portion formed by the crimping die excluding both front and rear ends (so-called bell-mouth portions) of the crimped portion 62) is arranged to be sandwiched between a pair of left and right support portions 53 of the holder 50 (more specifically, a pair of left and right tip portions 58) (see FIG. 6). As a result, the pair of left and right support portions 53 are arranged to sandwich the crimped portion 62 of the external terminal 60 in the circumferential direction (left and right direction) around the male thread portion 32 of the bolt 30. As a result, the external terminal 60 is maintained in a position extending parallel to the front and rear direction.

[0027] Next, a metal nut 40 is screwed onto the male thread portion 32 of the bolt 30. At this time, the pair of left and right support portions 53 (tip portions 58) of the holder 50 are arranged to sandwich the crimp portion 62 of the external terminal 60, thereby preventing the external terminal 60 from rotating together. That is, the external terminal 60 maintains its posture of extending parallel to the front-to-rear direction. Here, the crimp portion 62 of the external terminal 60 (its central portion excluding the bell-mouth portion, i.e., the portion formed by the crimping die) is crimped to the electric wire using a crimping die, and is therefore precisely formed to a dimension (so-called crimp width) corresponding to the shape of the crimping die. By designing the positions and dimensions of the pair of support portions 53 (tip portions 58) of the holder 50 so as to sandwich the crimp portion 62 (the portion formed by the crimping die), the pair of support portions 53 (tip portions 58) can be arranged so as to prevent an excessive gap, etc., between the support portions 53 (tip portions 58) and the crimping portion 62 of the external terminal 60. Therefore, the orientation of the external terminal 60 can be more strictly controlled.

[0028] Furthermore, because each of the pair of left and right support portions 53 is composed of the first portion 54 and the second portion 55 described above, external force applied from the external terminal 60 to the first portion 54 (tip end portion 58) of the support portion 53 can be absorbed by elastic deformation of the second portion 55 of the support portion 53. At this time, because the second portion 55 is curved, it can absorb a larger external force than if the second portion 55 were flat. Furthermore, because the thickness of the tip end portion 58 of the first portion 54 is thinner than the thickness of the connecting portion 57, when an external force acts on the support portion 53, the tip end portion 58 of the first portion 54 of the support portion 53 is easily deformed, thereby preventing excessive concentration of the external force on the tip end portion 58. As described above, by screwing the nut 40 into the male thread portion 32 of the bolt 30, the rear end portion of the busbar 10 and the external terminal 60 are fastened together inside the main body portion 51 of the holder 50. An area of ​​the busbar 10 forward of the center in the front-rear direction protrudes forward from the main body 51 of the holder 50. This allows an external terminal 60 to be connected to the electrical connection part 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, etc.

[0029] <Actions and Effects> As described above, according to the electrical connection part 1 of this embodiment, the holder 50 attached to the housing 20 has a pair of support parts 53 that are arranged to sandwich the external terminals 60 in the circumferential direction (left-right direction) around the fastening shaft (external thread part 32) of the fastener (bolt 30 and nut 40). As a result, when the external terminals 60 are fastened to the busbar 10, the pair of support parts 53 prevent the external terminals 60 from rotating together. Therefore, the electrical connection part 1 of this embodiment can regulate the orientation of the external terminals 60 when the external terminals 60 are fastened to the busbar 10 of the electrical connection part 1.

[0030] Furthermore, as another effect, because the holder 50 has the function of holding the fastener (bolt 30), the structure of the housing 20 can be simplified compared to when the housing 20 holds the fastener 30. For example, when the housing 20 is injection-molded, it is sufficient for the molding die to have a structure for forming the bus bar insertion holes 24 for inserting the bus bars 10 into the housing 20 (i.e., the molding die needs to separate only in one direction, the direction in which the bus bar insertion holes 24 extend (the front-rear direction)). This makes it easier to manufacture the housing 20 compared to when a molding die with multiple separation directions is used. In other words, the design freedom of the housing 20 can be improved. In addition, it is also possible to avoid the housing 20 becoming larger due to excessive concentration of functions in the housing 20.

[0031] Furthermore, in the electrical connection part 1 according to this embodiment, the sealing part (O-ring 80) is disposed in the accommodation space S defined between the housing 20 and the holder 50, at a position where it does not come into contact with the holder 50. As a result, for example, when the electrical connection part 1 is mounted on a vehicle or the like, even if the electric wire 70 extending from the external terminal 60 is pulled and an external force due to the pulling acts on the holder 50, the holder 50 is not in contact with the sealing part 80, and therefore, the position of the sealing part 80 is unlikely to shift. Therefore, the sealing function of the sealing part 80 can be maintained.

[0032] Furthermore, in the electrical connection component 1 according to this embodiment, the pair of support portions 53 are connected by a connecting portion (extending plate portion 56), and each of the pair of support portions 53 has a plate-like shape and includes a first portion 54 facing the external terminal 60 and a second portion 55 that curves and protrudes in the circumferential direction (left-right direction) away from the first portion 54. This allows, for example, an external force acting from the external terminal 60 on the first portion 54 of the support portion 53 to be absorbed by elastic deformation of the second portion 55 of the support portion 53. Because the second portion 55 is curved, it can absorb a greater external force than if the second portion 55 were flat.

[0033] Furthermore, in the electrical connection part 1 according to this embodiment, the plate thickness at the extending end (tip portion 58) of the support portion 53 is thinner than the plate thickness at a predetermined position (connecting portion 57) closer to the fastener (bolt 30) from the extending end (tip portion 58). As a result, when an external force acts on the support portion 53, the extending end (tip portion 58) of the support portion 53 is easily deformed, which makes it possible to prevent the external force from being excessively concentrated on the extending end (tip portion 58). In other words, the external force is received by the entire support portion 53, so a greater external force can be absorbed.

[0034] Furthermore, according to the electrical connection part 1 of this embodiment, the pair of support parts 53 are arranged to sandwich the crimping part 62 of the external terminal 60 that is to be crimped onto the external electric wire (electric wire 70). The crimping part 62 of the external terminal 60 is crimped onto the electric wire 70 using a crimping die, and is therefore precisely formed to dimensions that correspond to the shape of the crimping die. In particular, the central part of the crimping part, excluding both end parts (so-called bell-mouth parts), is precisely formed. By designing the positions and dimensions of the pair of support parts 53 so that they sandwich the crimping part 62, the pair of support parts 53 can be arranged so that there is no excessive gap between the support parts 53 and the external terminal 60. This makes it possible to more precisely regulate the orientation of the external terminal 60.

[0035] <Other aspects> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0036] For example, in the above embodiment, when the holder 50 is viewed from above (in the axial direction of the male thread portion 32 of the bolt 30), the distance between an imaginary line extending in the front-rear direction from the male thread portion 32 and one of the support portions 53 is equal to the distance between the imaginary line and the other support portion 53. In other words, the pair of support portions 53 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the imaginary line extending in the front-rear direction from the male thread portion 32. This allows the external terminals 60 to maintain a posture in which they extend parallel to the imaginary line (front-rear direction) before and after fastening the external terminals 60 to the busbar 10. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 8 , when the holder 50 is viewed from above (in the axial direction of the male thread portion 32 of the bolt 30), the distance between an imaginary line H extending in the front-rear direction from the male thread portion 32 and one of the support portions 53 may be different from the distance between the imaginary line H and the other support portion 53. In other words, the pair of support portions 53 may be disposed asymmetrically with respect to an imaginary line H extending from the male thread portion 32 in the front-rear direction.

[0037] In the example shown in FIG. 8 , the distance L1 between the imaginary line H and the right-side support portion 53 is larger than the distance L2 between the imaginary line H and the left-side support portion 53. Therefore, for example, before fastening the external terminal 60 to the busbar 10, as shown in FIG. 9 , the external terminal 60 is brought into contact with the right-side support portion 53, thereby intentionally positioning the external terminal 60 so that it is tilted to the right with respect to the imaginary line H. Next, when the external terminal 60 is fastened to the busbar 10, the external terminal 60 is intentionally rotated until it contacts the left-side support portion 53, as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 10 . This allows the orientation of the external terminal 60 to be regulated so that it is parallel to the imaginary line H. As a result of this change in the orientation of the external terminal 60, a gap G exists between the crimping portion 62 of the external terminal 60 and the right-side support portion 53 after the fastening is completed, as shown in FIG. 10 .

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the second portion 55 of the support portion 53 has a curved shape that protrudes outward in the left-right direction when viewed from behind, as shown in Fig. 6. In contrast to this, the second portion 55 may have a curved shape that protrudes inward in the left-right direction when viewed from behind.

[0039] Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the electrical connection part 1 according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [6].

[0040] [1] An electrical connection part (1) comprising: a conductor (10); a housing (20) having a hole (24) into which the conductor (10) is inserted; fasteners (30, 40) for fastening an external terminal (60) to the conductor (10); and a holder (50) that holds the fastener (30) and is attached to the housing (20), The holder (50) a pair of support portions (53) arranged to sandwich the external terminal (60) in the circumferential direction around the fastening shaft (32) of the fastener (30); Electrical connection parts (1).

[0041] According to the electrical connection part having the configuration [1] above, a pair of support parts of the holder attached to the housing are arranged to sandwich the external terminal in the circumferential direction around the fastening axis of the fastener. As a result, when the external terminal is fastened to the conductor, the pair of support parts suppress the external terminal from displacing in the fastening direction (i.e., co-rotating). Therefore, the electrical connection part having this configuration can regulate the orientation of the external terminal when the external terminal is fastened to the conductor of the electrical connection part.

[0042] Furthermore, as another effect, because the holder functions to hold the fastener, the structure of the housing can be simplified compared to when the housing holds the fastener. This allows the structure of the molding die to be simplified, for example, when the housing is injection molded. For example, the molding die need only separate in one direction, the direction for forming the hole for inserting the conductor in the housing (i.e., the direction in which the hole extends). As a result, the manufacturing process can be simplified compared to when a molding die with multiple separation directions is used. In other words, the degree of freedom in the design of the housing can be improved. In addition, it is also possible to avoid the housing becoming larger due to excessive concentration of functions in the housing.

[0043] [2] The electrical connection part (1) described in [1] above, a sealing component (80) that is arranged to surround the conductor (10) and that fluid-tightly seals a path that communicates between the inside and outside of the housing (20) through a gap between the hole (24) of the housing (20) and the conductor (10); The sealing component (80) is The holder (50) is disposed in a storage space (S) defined between the housing (20) and the holder (50) and at a position where the holder (50) is not in contact with the holder. Electrical connection parts (1).

[0044] According to the electrical connection component having the configuration [2] above, the sealing component is disposed in the storage space defined between the housing and the holder, but at a position that does not contact the holder. As a result, even if an external force is applied to the holder, for example, when an electric wire extending from the external terminal is subjected to the external force, the external force is not applied to the sealing component because the holder is not in contact with the sealing component, and the positional displacement of the sealing component is unlikely to occur. Therefore, the sealing function of the sealing component can be maintained.

[0045] [3] In the electrical connection part (1) described in [1] above, The holder (50) a connecting portion (56) that connects the pair of support portions (53) in the circumferential direction, Each of the pair of support portions (53) The connector has a first portion (54) having a plate-like shape and facing the external terminal (60), and a second portion (55) connecting the first portion (54) and the connecting portion (56) and curved so as to protrude in a direction away from the first portion (54) in the circumferential direction. Electrical connection parts (1).

[0046] According to the electrical connection component having the configuration [3] above, a pair of support parts are connected by a connecting part, and each of the pair of support parts has a plate-like shape and includes a first part facing the external terminal and a second part that curves and protrudes away from the first part in the circumferential direction. This allows, for example, external force acting on the first part of the support part from the external terminal to be absorbed by elastic deformation of the second part of the support part. Because the second part is curved, it can absorb a greater external force than if the second part were flat.

[0047] [4] In the electrical connection part (1) described in [1] above, Each of the pair of support portions (53) The support portion (53) has a plate-like shape extending in a predetermined direction away from the fastener (30), and is configured such that the plate thickness at the extending end (58) of the support portion (53) is thinner than the plate thickness at a predetermined position closer to the fastener (30) from the extending end (58). Electrical connection parts (1).

[0048] According to the electrical connection component having the configuration [4] above, the thickness of the extending end of the support portion is thinner than the thickness at a predetermined position closer to the fastener from the extending end. This allows the extending end of the support portion to easily deform when an external force acts on the support portion, thereby preventing excessive concentration of the external force on the extending end. In other words, the external force can be absorbed by the entire support portion, making it possible to absorb a larger external force.

[0049] [5] In the electrical connection part (1) described in [1] above, The pair of support portions (53) are The external terminal (60) is arranged to sandwich the crimping portion (62) that is crimped to the external electric wire (70). Electrical connection parts (1).

[0050] According to the electrical connection part having the configuration [5] above, the pair of support parts are arranged to sandwich the crimping part of the external terminal that is to be crimped onto the external electric wire. Generally, the crimping part of the terminal is crimped onto the electric wire using a crimping die, and is therefore precisely shaped to dimensions that correspond to the shape of the die. In particular, the central part of the crimping part, excluding both ends (so-called bell-mouth parts), is precisely shaped. By designing the positions and dimensions of the pair of support parts so that they sandwich the crimping part, the pair of support parts can be arranged so that there is no excessive gap between the support parts and the external terminal. This allows for more strict control of the posture of the external terminal.

[0051] [6] In the electrical connection part (1) described in [1] above, The pair of support portions (53) are The holder (50) has a plate-like shape extending in a predetermined direction away from the fastener (30), and is configured such that, when the holder (50) is viewed from the axial direction of the fastening shaft (32), a distance (L1) between an imaginary line (H) extending in the predetermined direction from the fastening shaft (32) and one of the support portions (53) is different from a distance (L2) between the imaginary line (H) and the other support portion (53). Electrical connection parts (1).

[0052] According to the electrical connection component having the configuration [6] above, the pair of support parts are arranged asymmetrically with respect to an imaginary line extending in a predetermined direction from the fastening shaft. As a result, for example, before fastening the external terminal to the conductor, the external terminal can be intentionally arranged so that it is tilted with respect to the imaginary line, and by fastening the external terminal to the conductor, the orientation of the external terminal can be regulated so that the external terminal rotates and becomes parallel to the imaginary line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 Electrical connection parts 10 Bus bar (conductor) 20. Housing 24 Bus bar insertion hole (hole) 30 bolts (fasteners) 32 Male thread (fastening shaft) 40 Nut (fastener) 50 holder 53 Support part 54 Part 1 55 Part 2 56 Extension plate part (connection part) 58 Tip (extended end) 60 External terminal 62 Crimping section 70 Electric wire (external wire) 80 O-ring (sealing part) H Virtual line S Storage space

Claims

1. An electrical connection part comprising: a conductor; a housing having a hole into which the conductor is inserted; a fastener for fastening an external terminal to the conductor; and a holder for holding the fastener and attached to the housing, The holder is a pair of support portions disposed to sandwich the external terminal in a circumferential direction around a fastening axis of the fastener; Electrical connection parts.

2. 2. The electrical connection part according to claim 1, a sealing component that is arranged to surround the conductor and that fluid-tightly seals a path that communicates between the inside and outside of the housing through a gap between the hole of the housing and the conductor; The sealing component is The holder is disposed in an accommodation space defined between the housing and the holder, and at a position where the holder is not in contact with the housing. Electrical connection parts.

3. 2. The electrical connection part according to claim 1, The holder is a connecting portion that connects the pair of support portions in the circumferential direction, Each of the pair of support portions is a first portion having a plate-like shape and facing the external terminal; and a second portion connecting the first portion and the connecting portion and curved so as to protrude in a direction away from the first portion in the circumferential direction. Electrical connection parts.

4. 2. The electrical connection part according to claim 1, Each of the pair of support portions is The support portion has a plate-like shape extending in a predetermined direction away from the fastener, and is configured so that the plate thickness at the extending end of the support portion is thinner than the plate thickness at a predetermined position closer to the fastener from the extending end. Electrical connection parts.

5. 2. The electrical connection part according to claim 1, The pair of support portions are The external terminal is disposed so as to sandwich a crimping portion that is crimped to an external electric wire. Electrical connection parts.

6. 2. The electrical connection part according to claim 1, The pair of support portions are The holder has a plate-like shape extending in a predetermined direction away from the fastener, and is configured such that, when the holder is viewed from the axial direction of the fastening shaft, a distance between an imaginary line extending from the fastening shaft in the predetermined direction and one of the support parts is different from a distance between the imaginary line and the other support part. Electrical connection parts.

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