connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that allows the sharing of internal busbars even if the terminal arrangement is different. [Solution] The connector 1 comprises a terminal 10, a first busbar 20, a first fastener 81 for fastening the terminal 10 and the first busbar 20, a second busbar 30, a second fastener 82 for fastening the first busbar 20 and the second busbar 30, and a housing 40 for housing the terminal 10. The first busbar 20 has a first insertion hole 23 through which the first fastener 81 is inserted. The second busbar 30 has a second insertion hole 31 through which the second fastener 82 is inserted. The first through-hole 23 has an elongated shape in which the width of the hole in the first direction is greater than the width of the hole in the direction intersecting the first direction, and is configured to allow the position of the first fastener 81 in the first through-hole 23 to be adjusted in the first direction. The second through-hole 31 has an elongated shape in which the width of the hole in the second direction is greater than the width of the hole in the direction intersecting the second direction, and is configured to allow the position of the second fastener 82 in the second through-hole 31 to be adjusted in the second direction.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a connector including a terminal, a first bus bar, a second bus bar fastened and connected to the first bus bar, and a housing for accommodating the terminal.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to supply (charge) power from outside the vehicle to a battery mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle, a charging connector installed in the vehicle has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Connectors of the above-described type generally need to have a structure defined by various standards. For example, the intervals between a plurality of terminals (so-called power terminals) provided in the connector are usually different for each standard. Therefore, components of the connector (for example, a bus bar to which the terminals are connected) are prepared as dedicated products having different shapes and the like for each standard. However, from the viewpoint of reducing the production cost of the connector and the like, it is desirable to share the components of the connector as much as possible even if the applied standards are different.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of sharing internal bus bars even if the arrangements of the terminals are different.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above-described object, the connector according to the present invention is characterized as follows.

[0007] A connector comprising: a terminal; a first busbar connected to the terminal; a first fastener for fastening the terminal and the first busbar; a second busbar connected to the first busbar; a second fastener for fastening the first busbar and the second busbar; and a housing for housing the terminal, The first busbar has a first insertion hole through which the first fastener is inserted, The second busbar has a second insertion hole through which the second fastener is inserted, The first insertion hole is, The hole has an elongated shape in which the hole width in a predetermined first direction is larger than the hole width in a direction intersecting the first direction, and the position of the first fastener within the first insertion hole is adjustable in the first direction. The second insertion hole is, The hole has an elongated shape in which the width of the hole in a predetermined second direction is greater than the width of the hole in a direction intersecting the second direction, and the position of the second fastener within the second insertion hole is adjustable in the second direction. It must be a connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the connector of the present invention, a terminal and a first busbar are fastened together by a first fastener, and a first busbar and a second busbar are fastened together by a second fastener. The first insertion hole of the first busbar for inserting the first fastener has an elongated shape that is long in the first direction, and the second insertion hole of the second busbar for inserting the second fastener has an elongated shape that is long in the second direction. Therefore, even if the arrangement of terminals differs according to the standards applied to the connector, the terminal and the first busbar can be fastened together without changing the shape of the first busbar or the position of the first busbar within the housing by varying the position of the first fastener within the first insertion hole according to the arrangement of terminals. Even if it is necessary to vary the position of the first busbar, the first busbar and the second busbar can be fastened together without changing the shape of the second busbar or the position of the second busbar within the housing by varying the position of the second fastener within the second insertion hole according to the arrangement of the first busbar. Therefore, the connector of the present invention can share internal busbars even if the terminal arrangement is different.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. Further details of the present invention will be clarified by referring to the accompanying drawings and reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of BB in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a rear view showing the second bolt slidably held in the first busbar on the left side, as shown in Figure 2. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the CC shown in Figure 5. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a rear view of the second busbar shown in Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The connector 1 shown in Figure 1 is a charging connector (so-called charging inlet) installed in a vehicle, for example, to supply power (charge) to a battery mounted on the vehicle, such as an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle, from outside the vehicle.

[0012] For the sake of explanation, as shown in Figure 1, we define "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," "left-right direction," "front," "rear," "up," "down," "left," and "right." The "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," and "left-right direction" are orthogonal to each other. The left-right direction coincides with the "first direction" and "second direction" of the present invention. The front-rear direction, up-down direction, and left-right direction do not necessarily coincide with the front-rear direction, up-down direction, and left-right direction of the vehicle on which the connector 1 is mounted. The components constituting the connector 1 will be described in order below.

[0013] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, connector 1 comprises a pair of left and right terminals 10, a pair of left and right first busbars 20 fastened to each of the left and right terminals 10 using a first bolt 81, a pair of left and right second busbars 30 fastened to each of the left and right first busbars 20 using a second bolt 82, and a housing 40 that accommodates the pair of left and right terminals 10. The housing 40 consists of a case 50, a holder 60 assembled to the case 50, and a cover 70 assembled to the case 50. When connector 1 is mounted in a vehicle, terminals 10 (also called power terminals) are electrically connected to mating terminals (not shown) belonging to a mating connector (for example, a so-called charging connector) that is mated to connector 1 when the battery is charged, and the second busbars 30 are electrically connected to the battery side. The configuration of each component constituting connector 1 will be described in order below.

[0014] First, the terminal 10 will be described. A pair of left and right terminals 10 will be held by a holder 60 that constitutes the housing 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). As shown in FIG. 3, the metal terminal 10 has a rod-like shape that extends straight in the front-rear direction as a whole. Specifically, it is composed of a small-diameter portion 11 located on the tip side (front end side), a middle-diameter portion 12 located on the rear side of the small-diameter portion 11 and having a larger diameter than the small-diameter portion 11, and a large-diameter portion 13 located on the rear side (rear end side) of the middle-diameter portion 12 and having a larger diameter than the middle-diameter portion 12.

[0015] The small-diameter portion 11 is a portion that will be connected to a mating terminal belonging to a mating connector that fits into a hood portion 61 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) of the holder 60 to be described later. The middle-diameter portion 12 is a portion that will be held by a terminal holding portion 63 (see FIG. 3) of the holder 60 to be described later. A bolt hole (female screw hole) 14 that is recessed forward is formed in the rear end surface of the large-diameter portion 13. The first bus bar 20 will be fastened and fixed to the rear end surface of the large-diameter portion 13 using a metal first bolt 81 screwed into the bolt hole 14 (see FIGS. 2, 3, etc.).

[0016] Next, the first bus bar 20 will be described. A pair of left and right first bus bars 20 fastened to each of the pair of left and right terminals 10 will be housed in a case 50 that constitutes the housing 40 in a state where they face each other in opposite directions in the left-right direction (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the metal first bus bar 20 has a plate-like shape that extends in the left-right direction as a whole. Specifically, it is composed of a fastening portion 21 located on the inner side in the left-right direction and a main body portion 22 located on the outer side in the left-right direction.

[0017] The fastening portion 21 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape extending in the left - right direction. In the fastening portion 21, a first insertion hole 23 penetrating in the plate thickness direction (front - rear direction) is formed (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). The leg portion (male screw portion) of the first bolt 81 is to be inserted into the first insertion hole 23. The first insertion hole 23 has an elongated hole shape in which the hole width in the left - right direction is larger than the hole width in the up - down direction, and the position of the first bolt 81 inserted into the first insertion hole 23 is configured to be adjustable in the left - right direction with respect to the first insertion hole 23.

[0018] The main body portion 22 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape extending in the left - right direction and having a plate thickness (thickness in the front - rear direction) larger than the plate thickness (thickness in the front - rear direction) of the fastening portion 21 and the plate thickness (thickness in the front - rear direction) of the second bus bar 30. The main body portion 22 with a large plate thickness also has a large heat capacity. Therefore, the main body portion 22 functions as a heat storage portion that actively absorbs the heat generated in the first bus bar 20 during energization. When actually using the charging connector 1, due to the Joule heat generated at the terminal 10 during energization, the temperature of the terminal 10 (so - called operating temperature) rises. In this regard, even when the heat generation amount of the terminal 10 per unit time is large, such as during rapid charging, by absorbing the heat transferred from the terminal 10 to the first bus bar 20 in the main body portion 22 (heat storage portion), a rapid increase in the operating temperature of the terminal 10 can be suppressed, and the operating temperature of the terminal 10 can be gradually increased.

[0019] A rail groove 24 is formed on the rear end surface of the main body 22, recessed forward and extending in the left-right direction (see Figures 2, 3, and 5). The left-right outer ends of the rail groove 24 are open. As shown in Figure 6, a pair of upper and lower recessed portions 25 are formed on the inner walls of the upper and lower grooves of the rail groove 24, recessed outward in the vertical direction and extending in the left-right direction. The head of the second bolt 82, with its legs (male threaded portion) facing rearward, is housed in the rail groove 24, with a projection 82a (see Figure 6) on the outer circumferential surface of the head engaged with the pair of upper and lower recessed portions 25. As a result, the second bolt 82 is held in the rail groove 24 in a state where it cannot rotate and can slide in the left-right direction, with its legs (male threaded portion) protruding rearward from the outside of the rail groove 24. The second busbar 30 is fastened and fixed to the rear end surface of the main body 22 using the second bolt 82 held in the rail groove 24 (see Figure 3, etc.).

[0020] Next, the second busbar 30 will be described. The pair of left and right second busbars 30, which are fastened to each of the pair of left and right first busbars 20, are inserted through a pair of left and right openings 41 (see Figures 1, 3, 4, and 7), which will be described later and connect the inside and outside of the housing 40. The metal second busbar 30 has a flat plate shape that extends straight in the vertical direction as a whole, as shown in Figures 2 and 7. A second insertion hole 31 is formed at the upper end of the second busbar 30, penetrating in the plate thickness direction (front and back direction). The leg portion (male thread portion) of the second bolt 82 is inserted through the second insertion hole 31. The second insertion hole 31 has an elongated shape in which the width of the hole in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the hole in the vertical direction, and the position of the second bolt 82 inserted through the second insertion hole 31 can be adjusted in the left-right direction relative to the second insertion hole 31.

[0021] Next, the case 50 that constitutes the housing 40 will be described. The case 50 is a resin molded body and, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, has a main body 51 that has a rectangular box shape that is long in the left-right direction. The front end of the main body 51 is closed by a front wall, and the rear end is open. An opening (through hole) 52 is formed in the left-right center of the front wall of the main body 51 through which a pair of left and right terminals 10 held by the holder 60 are inserted (see Figure 3). A flat plate-shaped partition wall 53 is provided in the left-right center of the main body 51, extending vertically to divide the left-right long internal space of the main body 51 into two halves in the left-right direction (see Figures 2 and 3). On the bottom wall (lower wall) of the main body 51, a pair of left and right front peripheral wall portions 54 are provided that extend downward from the bottom wall and constitute the front part of the peripheral wall that defines each of the left and right vertically extending openings 41 (see Figures 1 and 4) of the housing 40. The left and right regions of the bottom wall of the main body 51, which are surrounded by each of the left and right front peripheral wall portions 54, are cut out so as to open in the vertical direction.

[0022] Next, the holder 60 that constitutes the housing 40 will be described. The holder 60 will be assembled to the case 50 so as to close the opening 52 of the case 50. The holder 60 is a resin molded body and, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, comprises a cylindrical hood portion 61 that is open at the front end and extends in the front-rear direction, and a flat flange portion 62 that extends in the vertical and left-right directions from the rear end of the hood portion 61. The hood portion 61 is the part into which the mating connector is fitted. As shown in Figure 3, a pair of left and right terminal holding portions 63 are formed on the rear wall that closes the rear end of the hood portion 61. Specifically, each of the terminal holding portions 63 has a cylindrical shape that extends in the front-rear direction, and the middle diameter portion 12 of the terminal 10 will be held in the terminal holding portion 63 (see Figure 3). The distance between the left and right pair of terminal holding portions 63 (i.e., the left and right pair of terminals 10) is set to a value corresponding to the standard applicable to the connector 1.

[0023] Next, the cover 70 that constitutes the housing 40 will be described. The cover 70 is assembled to the case 50 so as to close the rear end opening of the case 50. The cover 70 is a resin molded body and, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, has a main body portion 71 that is rectangular in shape and elongated in the left-right direction, corresponding to the rear end opening of the case 50. The rear end of the main body portion 71 is closed by a rear wall, and the front end is open. On the bottom wall (lower wall) of the main body portion 71, a pair of left and right rear peripheral wall portions 72 are provided so as to extend downward from the bottom wall, forming the rear portion of the peripheral wall that defines each of the left and right openings 41 (see Figures 1 and 4) of the housing 40 that extend in the vertical direction. The left and right regions of the bottom wall of the main body portion 71, which are surrounded by each of the left and right rear peripheral wall portions 72, are cut out so as to open in the vertical direction. The configuration of each component that constitutes the connector 1 has been described above.

[0024] Next, the assembly procedure for connector 1 will be described. In order to assemble connector 1, first, a holder 60 is prepared in which the distance between the left and right pair of terminal holding parts 63 (i.e., the left and right pair of terminals 10) is set to a value corresponding to the standard applicable to connector 1, and this holder 60 is assembled to the case 50 from the front (see Figure 3). Specifically, the holder 60 is assembled to the case 50 such that the rear wall of the hood part 61 closes the opening 52 of the main body part 51, and the flange part 62 abuts against the front wall of the main body part 51. When the assembly of the holder 60 is complete, the left and right pair of terminal holding parts 63 are positioned to face the opening 52.

[0025] Next, the left and right pair of terminals 10 are assembled to the holder 60 from the rear. Specifically, each terminal 10 is inserted from the rear into the corresponding terminal holding portion 63, and its medium-diameter portion 12 is held by the corresponding terminal holding portion 63. When the left and right pair of terminals 10 are assembled, the left and right pair of small-diameter portions 11 protrude forward from the left and right pair of terminal holding portions 63 and are located within the internal space of the hood portion 61, while the left and right pair of large-diameter portions 13 protrude rearward from the opening 52, sandwiching the partition wall 53 on both sides, and are located within the internal space of the main body portion 51 (see Figure 3). Note that the order of assembling the holder 60 to the case 50 and assembling the terminals 10 to the holder 60 may be reversed.

[0026] Next, each of the left and right pairs of first busbars 20 is fastened to each of the left and right pairs of terminals 10. Specifically, each first busbar 20 is fastened to the corresponding terminal 10 by screwing the legs of the first bolt 81, which is inserted through the first insertion hole 23 of the fastening portion 21, into the bolt hole 14 of the large diameter portion 13 of the corresponding terminal 10, while the fastening portion 21 is positioned inward in the left and right direction and extends in the left and right direction. At this time, since the position of the first bolt 81 inserted through the first insertion hole 23 is adjustable in the left and right direction relative to the first insertion hole 23, even if the distance between the left and right pairs of terminals 10 differs according to the standards applied to the connector 1, the terminals 10 and the first busbars 20 can be fastened without changing the shape of the first busbars 20 or the left and right position of the first busbars 20 within the case 50, by changing the left and right position of the first bolt 81 within the first insertion hole 23 according to the arrangement of the terminals 10. This allows the first busbar 20 to be shared even if the left-right arrangement of the terminals 10 is different. When the left and right pair of first busbars 20 are fastened together, the left and right pair of first busbars 20 are located within the internal space of the main body 51 (see Figure 3).

[0027] Next, each of the left and right pairs of second busbars 30 is fastened to each of the left and right pairs of first busbars 20. Specifically, first, the heads of the second bolts 82 are housed and held in the rail grooves 24 of each of the left and right pairs of first busbars 20 through the openings at the left and right outer ends of the rail grooves 24. Then, each second busbar 30 is fastened to the corresponding first busbar 20 by inserting the second insertion hole 31 into the leg of the second bolt 82 protruding from the rail groove 24 of the corresponding first busbar 20 and tightening a metal nut 83, with the second insertion hole 31 located at the upper end and extending in the vertical direction. In this case, since the position of the second bolt 82 inserted through the second insertion hole 31 is adjustable in the left-right direction relative to the second insertion hole 31, even if it is necessary to change the left-right position of the first busbar 20 according to the standards applied to the connector 1, the first busbar 20 and the second busbar 30 can be fastened together without changing the shape of the second busbar 30 or its position within the case 50, by changing the left-right position of the second bolt 82 within the second insertion hole 31 according to the arrangement of the first busbar 20. This makes it possible to use the same second busbar 30 even if the left-right arrangement of the first busbar 20 is different. Furthermore, since the position of the second bolt 82 held in the rail groove 24 of the first busbar 20 is adjustable in the left-right direction relative to the rail groove 24, for example, the design freedom of the left-right position of the second busbar 30 relative to the case 50 can be improved to accommodate the arrangement of other busbars or wires connected to the lower end of the second busbar 30. When the pair of left and right second busbars 30 are fastened, each of the pair of left and right second busbars 30 is located within a vertically extending space defined by the corresponding front peripheral wall portion 54 of the case 50.

[0028] Next, the cover 70 is assembled to the case 50 from the rear (see Figure 3). Specifically, the cover 70 is assembled to the case 50 such that the main body portion 71 closes the rear end opening of the case 50, and each of the left and right rear peripheral wall portions 72 is positioned adjacent to the rear of each of the left and right front peripheral wall portions 54 to define a pair of left and right openings 41 (see also Figure 4). When the cover 70 is assembled, the housing 40 consisting of the case 50, holder 60 and cover 70 is completed, and the left and right second busbars 30 are inserted through the left and right openings 41 that connect the inside and outside of the housing 40, and extend downward from the left and right openings 41 to the outside of the housing 40 (see Figure 1). With the above steps, the assembly of the connector 1 is completed, and the connector 1 shown in Figure 1 is obtained.

[0029] The opening 41 (see Figure 4) defined in the completed housing 40 has a left-right opening width that allows the second busbar 30 to be inserted whether the second bolt 82 is located at one end of the second insertion hole 31 in the left-right direction or at the other end of the second insertion hole 31 in the left-right direction. As a result, even if it is necessary to have the second busbar 30 in different positions within the housing 40, it is not necessary to prepare a separate housing 40 for each position of the second busbar 30. In other words, the housing 40 can be shared.

[0030] <Effects and Actions> As described above, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the terminal 10 and the first busbar 20 are fastened together by a first fastener (first bolt 81), and the first busbar 20 and the second busbar 30 are fastened together by a second fastener (second bolt 82). The first insertion hole 23 of the first busbar 20 for inserting the first fastener 81 has an elongated shape that is long in the first direction (left-right direction), and the second insertion hole 31 of the second busbar 30 for inserting the second fastener 82 has an elongated shape that is long in the second direction (left-right direction). Therefore, even if the arrangement of the terminal 10 differs according to the standard applied to the connector 1, the terminal 10 and the first busbar 20 can be fastened together without changing the shape of the first busbar 20 or its position within the housing 40, by changing the position of the first fastener 81 in the first insertion hole 23 according to the arrangement of the terminal 10. Even if it is necessary to change the position of the first busbar 20, the first busbar 20 and the second busbar 30 can be fastened together without changing the shape of the second busbar 30 or its position within the housing 40, by changing the position of the second fastener 82 in the second insertion hole 31 according to the arrangement of the first busbar 20. Therefore, the connector 1 according to this embodiment can share the internal first busbar 20 and second busbar 30 even if the arrangement of the terminals 10 is different.

[0031] Furthermore, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the opening 41 of the housing 40 has an opening width that allows the second busbar 30 to be inserted through the opening 41 whether the second fastener 82 is located at one end of the second insertion hole 31 or at the other end of the second insertion hole 31. As a result, even if it is necessary to have different positions for the second busbar 30 within the housing 40, it is not necessary to prepare a separate housing 40 for each position of the second busbar 30. In other words, the housing 40 can be shared.

[0032] Furthermore, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the first busbar 20 has a holding portion (rail groove 24) that slidably holds the second fastener 82. This allows not only the position of the first busbar 20 and the second busbar 30, but also the position of the second fastener 82 to be adjusted, so that the first busbar 20 and the second busbar 30 can be used interchangeably even if the arrangement of the terminals 10 is different, and the design freedom of the position of the second busbar 30 in the housing 40 can be improved.

[0033] Furthermore, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the pair of terminals 10 are arranged in the direction in which the first insertion hole 23 of the first busbar 20 extends (i.e., the first direction). As a result, even if the distance between the pair of terminals 10 differs according to the standard, the terminals 10 and the first busbar 20 can be fastened together without changing the shape of the first busbar 20 or its position within the housing 40.

[0034] Furthermore, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the first busbar 20 has a portion that is thicker than the plate thickness of the second busbar 30 as a heat storage portion (main body portion 22). When the charging connector 1 is actually used, the temperature of the terminal 10 (so-called operating temperature) rises due to the Joule heat generated at the terminal 10 when power is applied. Therefore, from the viewpoint of maintaining the quality and safety of the connector 1, the upper limit of the operating temperature of the terminal 10 may be specified in a predetermined standard. The connector 1 of this embodiment absorbs the heat generated at the first busbar 20 when power is applied using the heat storage portion 22 with a large heat capacity, so that even when the amount of heat generated at the terminal 10 per unit time is large, such as during rapid charging, the rapid rise in the operating temperature of the terminal 10 is suppressed and the operating temperature of the terminal 10 is allowed to rise gradually.

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

[0036] In the above embodiment, the first insertion hole 23 of the first busbar 20 has an elongated shape that is long in the left-right direction, so that the position of the first bolt 81 inserted through the first insertion hole 23 can be adjusted in the left-right direction relative to the first insertion hole 23, and the second insertion hole 31 of the second busbar 30 has an elongated shape that is long in the left-right direction, so that the position of the second bolt 82 inserted through the second insertion hole 31 can be adjusted in the left-right direction relative to the second insertion hole 31. In contrast, the first insertion hole 23 of the first busbar 20 has an elongated shape that is long in the left-right direction, so that the position of the first bolt 81 inserted through the first insertion hole 23 can be adjusted in the left-right direction relative to the first insertion hole 23, while the second insertion hole 31 of the second busbar 30 has an elongated shape that is long in the up-down direction, so that the position of the second bolt 82 inserted through the second insertion hole 31 can be adjusted in the up-down direction relative to the second insertion hole 31.

[0037] Here, the features of the embodiments of the connector 1 according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [5].

[0038] [1] A connector (1) comprising: a terminal (10); a first busbar (20) connected to the terminal (10); a first fastener (81) for fastening the terminal (10) and the first busbar (20); a second busbar (30) connected to the first busbar (20); a second fastener (82) for fastening the first busbar (20) and the second busbar (30); and a housing (40) for housing the terminal (10), The first busbar (20) has a first insertion hole (23) through which the first fastener (81) is inserted. The second busbar (30) has a second insertion hole (31) through which the second fastener (82) is inserted. The first insertion hole (23) is The first through-hole (23) has an elongated shape in which the hole width in a predetermined first direction is larger than the hole width in a direction intersecting the first direction, and the position of the first fastener (81) within the first through-hole (23) is adjustable in the first direction. The second insertion hole (31) is The hole has an elongated shape in which the width of the hole in a predetermined second direction is greater than the width of the hole in a direction intersecting the second direction, and the position of the second fastener (82) within the second insertion hole (31) is adjustable in the second direction. Connector (1).

[0039] In the connector configuration described in [1] above, the terminals and the first busbar are fastened together by a first fastener, and the first busbar and the second busbar are fastened together by a second fastener. The first insertion hole of the first busbar for inserting the first fastener has an elongated shape that is long in the first direction, and the second insertion hole of the second busbar for inserting the second fastener has an elongated shape that is long in the second direction. Therefore, even if the arrangement of the terminals differs depending on the standard applied to the connector, the terminals and the first busbar can be fastened together without changing the shape of the first busbar or the position of the first busbar within the housing by varying the position of the first fastener within the first insertion hole according to the arrangement of the terminals. Even if it is necessary to vary the position of the first busbar, the first busbar and the second busbar can be fastened together without changing the shape of the second busbar or the position of the second busbar within the housing by varying the position of the second fastener within the second insertion hole according to the arrangement of the first busbar. Therefore, this connector configuration allows for the sharing of internal busbars even if the terminal arrangement differs.

[0040] [2] In the connector (1) described in [1] above, The housing (40) is The housing (40) has an opening (41) through which the second busbar (30) is inserted to the inside and outside of the housing (40), The aforementioned opening (41) is Whether the second fastener (82) is located at one end of the second insertion hole (31) or at the other end of the second insertion hole (31), the opening (41) has an opening width in the second direction that allows the second busbar (30) to be inserted through it. Connector (1).

[0041] According to the connector configuration described in [2] above, the opening of the housing has an opening width that allows the second busbar to be inserted through the opening whether the second fastener is located at one end of the second insertion hole or at the other end of the second insertion hole. This eliminates the need to prepare a separate housing for each position of the second busbar, even if it is necessary to have different positions for the second busbar within the housing. In other words, the housing can be shared.

[0042] [3] In the connector (1) described in [1] above, The aforementioned first bus bar (20) is, The device has a holding portion (24) that holds the second fastener (82) so as to be slidable in the second direction. Connector (1).

[0043] According to the connector configuration described in [3] above, the first busbar has a retaining portion that slidably holds the second fastener. This allows adjustment of not only the position of the first busbar and the second busbar, but also the position of the second fastener, enabling the sharing of internal busbars even if the terminal arrangement is different, and improving the design flexibility of the position of the second busbar in the housing.

[0044] [4] In the connector (1) described in [1] above, The pair of terminals (10) are arranged side by side in the first direction. Connector (1).

[0045] According to the connector configuration described in [4] above, the pair of terminals are arranged in the direction in which the first insertion hole of the first busbar extends (i.e., the first direction). This allows the terminals to be fastened to the first busbar without altering the shape of the first busbar or its position within the housing, even if the distance between the pair of terminals differs according to the standard.

[0046] [5] In the connector (1) described in [1] above, At least a portion of the thickness of the first busbar (20) is greater than the thickness of the second busbar (30). At least a portion of the above functions as a heat storage unit (22), Connector (1).

[0047] In the connector configuration described in [5] above, the first busbar has a portion thicker than the plate thickness of the second busbar that serves as a heat storage area. When a charging connector is actually used, the temperature of the terminals (so-called operating temperature) rises due to Joule heating generated at the terminals when power is applied. Therefore, from the viewpoint of maintaining the quality and safety of the connector, an upper limit on the operating temperature of the terminals may be specified in a prescribed standard. In this connector configuration, the heat generated at the first busbar when power is applied is absorbed by the heat storage area with a large heat capacity, so that even when the amount of heat generated at the terminals per unit time is large, such as during rapid charging, a rapid rise in the operating temperature of the terminals can be suppressed and the operating temperature of the terminals can be raised gradually. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1 Connector 10 terminals 20 First bus 22 Main body (heat storage section) 23 First insertion hole 24 Rail groove (holding part) 30 Second bus 31 Second insertion hole 40 Housing 41 Aperture 81 First bolt 82 Second bolt

Claims

1. A connector comprising: a terminal; a first busbar connected to the terminal; a first fastener for fastening the terminal and the first busbar; a second busbar connected to the first busbar; a second fastener for fastening the first busbar and the second busbar; and a housing for housing the terminal, The first busbar has a first insertion hole through which the first fastener is inserted, The second busbar has a second insertion hole through which the second fastener is inserted, The first insertion hole is, The hole has an elongated shape in which the width of the hole in a predetermined first direction is larger than the width of the hole in a direction intersecting the first direction, and the position of the first fastener within the first insertion hole is adjustable in the first direction. The second insertion hole is, The hole has an elongated shape in which the width of the hole in a predetermined second direction is larger than the width of the hole in a direction intersecting the second direction, and the position of the second fastener within the second insertion hole is adjustable in the second direction. connector.

2. In the connector according to claim 1, The aforementioned housing is The housing has an opening through which the second busbar is inserted both inside and outside the housing. The aforementioned opening is Whether the second fastener is located at one end of the second insertion hole or at the other end of the second insertion hole, the opening has an opening width in the second direction through which the second busbar can be inserted. connector.

3. In the connector according to claim 1, The aforementioned first bass bar is, The device has a holding portion that holds the second fastener so as to be slidable in the second direction, connector.

4. In the connector according to claim 1, The pair of terminals are arranged side by side in the first direction. connector.

5. In the connector according to claim 1, At least a portion of the thickness of the first busbar is greater than the thickness of the second busbar. At least a portion of the above functions as a heat storage unit. connector.

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