Shielded Connectors

Abstract

To provide a shield connector with a new structure capable of stably achieving the desired heat dissipation performance with a shorter heat dissipation path while suppressing the reduction in heat dissipation performance due to environmental temperature changes.SOLUTION: A shield connector 10 includes: a terminal fitting 16 that has a terminal connection part 14 to be connected to a mating terminal 12; an insulating housing 18 housing the terminal fitting 16; a shield shell 20 shielding the outer surface of the housing 18; a connection side contact surface 70 that comes into contact with the terminal connection part 14; an insulating heat dissipating member 22 that has a shell-side contact surface 72 exposed from a first opening 56 of the housing 18 and comes into contact with the shield shell 20; and a spring member 26 that applies an elastic force to a pressure receiving surface 24 of the terminal fitting 16. Due to the elastic force of the spring member 26 exerted on the pressure receiving surface 24 of the terminal fitting 16, the terminal connection part 14 is pressed by the connection side contact surface 70 of the heat dissipating member 22 and the shell side contact surface 72 of the heat dissipation member 22 is pressed against the shield shell 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a shielded connector that includes a terminal fitting having a terminal connection portion to be connected to a mating terminal, an electric wire connected to the electric wire connection portion of the terminal fitting, and a metallic shield shell that covers the electric wire connection portion of the terminal fitting and the electric wire, and that integrates the electric wire connection portion and the shield shell with an insulating resin portion formed by insert molding. In this shielded connector, the electric wire connection portion of the terminal fitting is tightly covered with an insulating resin portion that is filled in the shield shell by insert molding so as to fill the air layer inside the shield shell, and is integrated with the shield shell. Therefore, heat generated on the conductive path is quickly transferred from the insulating resin portion to the metallic shield shell without passing through the air layer, and is dissipated, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the shielded connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-113119 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the shielded connector described in Patent Document 1, if short shots or voids (gaps) occur due to resin fluidity during molding of the insulating resin part, the expected heat dissipation performance may be reduced. In addition, since the linear expansion coefficients of the insulating resin part and the metallic shielded connector and terminal fittings are different, air layers (gaps) may occur between the contact surfaces of the insulating resin part and the metallic shielded connector and terminal fittings due to changes in the environmental temperature during use, which may reduce the heat dissipation performance. Furthermore, since the contact part of the insulating resin part with the terminal fittings is the electric wire connection part, there is an inherent problem that the distance from the terminal connection part, where the largest amount of heat is generated on the conductive path, to the shield shell, which is the heat dissipation part, is long, and the thermal resistance is large.

[0005] Therefore, we disclose a shielded connector with a new structure that can suppress the deterioration of heat dissipation performance due to changes in environmental temperature and stably achieve the desired heat dissipation performance with a shorter heat dissipation path. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The shielded connector of the present disclosure comprises terminal fittings having terminal connection portions to be connected to mating terminals, an insulating housing that accommodates the terminal fittings, a shield shell covering the outer surface of the housing, an insulating heat dissipation member having a connection portion side contact surface that contacts the terminal connection portion and a shell side contact surface exposed from a first opening of the housing and in contact with the shield shell, and a spring member that exerts an elastic force on the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fittings, wherein the elastic force of the spring member exerted on the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting presses the terminal connection portion against the connection portion side contact surface of the heat dissipation member, and the shell side contact surface of the heat dissipation member is pressed against the shield shell. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the shielded connector of the present disclosure, deterioration of heat dissipation performance due to changes in environmental temperature is suppressed, and the desired heat dissipation performance can be stably exhibited with a shorter heat dissipation path. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shielded connector according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the shielded connector shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the shielded connector shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is an exploded perspective view of the shielded connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a perspective view, seen from the top side, showing a housing constituting the shielded connector shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the housing shown in FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a perspective view showing an insulating cover constituting the shielded connector shown in FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a perspective view showing a terminal side assembly constituting the shielded connector shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a spring member in the shielded connector shown in FIG. 1 in a separate state prior to assembly. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a mating terminal is connected to the shield connector shown in FIG. 1, and corresponds to FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a shielded connector according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 13 and corresponds to FIG. [Figure 15] 15 is a perspective view showing a spring member constituting the shielded connector shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] <Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure> First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The shielded connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A terminal fitting having a terminal connection portion to be connected to a mating terminal, an insulating housing to accommodate the terminal fitting, a shield shell covering the outer surface of the housing, an insulating heat dissipation member having a connection portion side contact surface to contact the terminal connection portion and a shell side contact surface exposed from a first opening of the housing to contact the shield shell, and a spring member to exert an elastic force on a pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting, wherein the elastic force of the spring member exerted on the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting presses the terminal connection portion against the connection portion side contact surface of the heat dissipation member, and the shell side contact surface of the heat dissipation member is pressed against the shield shell.

[0010] According to the shielded connector of the present disclosure, instead of the insulating resin part molded to fill the gap between the shield shell and the terminal metal fitting in the conventional structure, an insulating heat dissipation member having a connection part side contact surface that contacts the terminal connection part of the terminal metal fitting and a shell side contact surface exposed from the first opening of the housing and contacting the shield shell is adopted. That is, since a separate heat dissipation member is used instead of the insulating resin part molded in the heat dissipation path, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the expected heat dissipation performance will be reduced due to the occurrence of short shots and voids that may occur during molding. Furthermore, the elastic force of a separate spring member is applied to the pressure receiving surface of the terminal metal fitting to press the pressure receiving surface, thereby pressing the terminal connection part against the connection part side contact surface of the heat dissipation member, and pressing the shell side contact surface of the heat dissipation member against the shield shell. As a result, even if the environmental temperature during use changes, the heat dissipation member interposed between the terminal connection part and the shield shell can be stably held in contact with the terminal connection part and the shield shell by utilizing the elastic force of the spring member. In addition, because the contact portion of the heat dissipation member with the terminal fitting is the terminal connection portion, the terminal connection portion, which generates the largest amount of heat on the conductive path, can be brought into direct contact with the shield shell via the heat dissipation member. As a result, the heat dissipation path can be made shorter than in the conventional structure, and the desired heat dissipation performance can be stably achieved.

[0011] The spring member may have any shape as long as it can exert an elastic force on the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal metal fitting. Similarly, the terminal metal fitting may have any shape as long as it has a connection terminal portion including a pressure-receiving surface that receives the elastic force of the spring member and a connection-side contact surface that is pressed against the heat dissipation member by the elastic force of the spring member transmitted from the pressure-receiving surface. Furthermore, the heat dissipation member may have any shape as long as it can press the shell-side contact surface of the heat dissipation member against the shield shell by the elastic force of the spring member transmitted to the connection-side contact surface.

[0012] (2) It is preferable that the terminal connection part of the terminal fitting has a rectangular tube shape, a mating terminal arrangement part into which the mating terminal is inserted is formed inside the terminal connection part, one of a pair of opposing wall parts of the terminal connection part forms the pressure receiving surface, the other of the pair of opposing wall parts forms a contact surface, and the contact surface is in contact with and pressed against the connection part side contact surface of the heat dissipation member. Since the terminal connection part of the terminal fitting has a rectangular tube shape, the mating terminal arrangement part can be provided inside the terminal connection part, and the risk of the mating terminal arrangement part or the mating terminal interfering with the spring member can be eliminated or reduced. In particular, when an elastic contact piece or the like that elastically contacts the mating terminal protrudes from the mating terminal arrangement part, deformation of the elastic contact piece is prevented, and a desired contact state with the mating terminal can be advantageously maintained. In addition, since the pair of opposing walls of the rectangular cylindrical terminal connection part form the pressure-receiving surface to which the elastic force of the spring member is applied and the contact surface that comes into contact with the heat dissipation member, the elastic force of the spring member can be reliably received and the terminal connection part can be pressed against the connection part-side contact surface of the heat dissipation member over a wide contact area, thereby realizing more stable heat dissipation from the terminal connection part to the shield shell.

[0013] (3) It is preferable that the housing includes a second opening exposing the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting, and an insulating cover assembled to the second opening and in contact with the pressure-receiving surface, and the spring member exerts the elastic force on the pressure-receiving surface via the insulating cover. Since an insulating cover that contacts the pressure-receiving surface is assembled to the second opening of the housing exposing the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting, and the elastic force of the spring member is exerted on the pressure-receiving surface via the insulating cover, the elastic force of the spring member can be exerted on the pressure-receiving surface while stably ensuring the insulation of the terminal fitting. Moreover, the insulating cover is assembled to the second opening of the housing by, for example, a well-known lock fitting. Therefore, it is possible to provide an assembly-type shielded connector in which separate terminal fittings and spring members are assembled to the housing, and heat dissipation performance can be more reliably achieved compared to the conventional resin-molded type.

[0014] (4) The insulating cover preferably has a flat cover body covering the second opening and a plurality of contact ribs protruding from the cover body toward the pressure-receiving surface and contacting the pressure-receiving surface. Since the insulating cover is composed of a flat cover body covering the second opening and a plurality of contact ribs protruding from the cover body, deformation due to sinking of the resin is reduced compared to when the entire insulating cover is molded from a thick resin, and the second opening can be stably covered. Moreover, since the insulating cover is in contact with the pressure-receiving surface by the plurality of contact ribs, the elastic force of the spring member acting on the insulating cover can be concentrated on the plurality of contact ribs while ensuring the rigidity of the insulating cover, and the elastic force of the spring member can be more stably applied to the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting. Note that any shape of the plurality of contact ribs can be adopted as long as the elastic force of the spring member can be stably applied to the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting.

[0015] (5) It is preferable that the insulating cover has an engagement rib that engages with the terminal connection portion to prevent the terminal fitting from slipping out of the housing. Since the engagement rib provided on the insulating cover engages with the terminal connection portion to prevent the terminal fitting from slipping out of the housing, the assembled state of the shielded connector can be stably maintained with a small number of parts.

[0016] (6) It is preferable that the housing includes a holding member that is assembled to the first opening and holds the heat dissipation member. The heat dissipation member that is exposed and can come into contact with the shield shell through the first opening of the housing can be held by the holding member assembled to the first opening, so that the heat dissipation member can be held more stably and the heat dissipation performance of the shielded connector can be stably maintained. Moreover, the holding member is assembled to the first opening of the housing by, for example, a well-known lock fitting. Therefore, it is possible to provide an assembly-type shielded connector in which separate terminal fittings and heat dissipation members are assembled to the housing, and it is possible to more reliably achieve improved heat dissipation performance compared to the conventional resin molded type.

[0017] (7) It is preferable that a pair of housings each accommodating a pair of the terminal fittings are each provided with the heat dissipation member, and are covered by the single shield shell with their respective pressure-receiving surfaces arranged facing each other, and that a single spring member is arranged between the pair of housings, and that the elastic force of the spring member is exerted on each of the pressure-receiving surfaces of the pair of terminal fittings, pressing each of the terminal connection portions against each of the connection portion side contact surfaces of each of the heat dissipation members, and pressing each of the shell side contact surfaces of each of the heat dissipation members against the shield shell.

[0018] Since the elastic force of a single spring member can be applied to the pressure-receiving surfaces of a pair of terminal fittings covered by a single shield shell, a two-pole shielded connector can be provided that is compact and has a small number of parts by sharing the spring member. Furthermore, the pair of terminal fittings are arranged so that their pressure-receiving surfaces face each other, and a single spring member arranged between them presses each pressure-receiving surface against the heat dissipation member and shield shell arranged on the opposite side. Therefore, by the principle of action and reaction, the pressing force of the two-pole terminal fittings against the heat dissipation member can be made uniform, and variation in heat dissipation performance can be suppressed.

[0019] (8) It is preferable that the shield shell has a housing portion for housing the spring member. Since the housing portion for housing the spring member is provided on the shield shell side, the shield shell can be used to reduce the size of the housing that the shield shell covers. As a result, the size of the entire shielded connector can be reduced advantageously.

[0020] (9) It is preferable that the insulating cap is attached to the shield shell so as to cover the housing portion of the shield shell, and the insulating cap is integrally provided with a mating terminal insertion hole and a spring member cover portion. By utilizing the insulating cap attached to the shield shell, it is possible to prevent the spring member from coming out of the housing portion and provide the mating terminal insertion hole with a small number of parts.

[0021] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Specific examples of the shielded connector of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0022] <Embodiment 1> A shielded connector 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 12. The shielded connector 10 is applied to, for example, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, and is used in the high current range of a high-voltage connector extending from a PCU (power control unit) to a battery. The shielded connector 10 can be arranged in any direction, but in the following description, the upper side will be referred to as the upper side in Fig. 3, the lower side as the lower side in Fig. 3, the front side as the left side in Fig. 3, the rear side as the right side in Fig. 3, the left side as the left side in Fig. 2, and the right side as the right side in Fig. 2. In addition, for multiple identical members, only some of the members may be labeled with reference numerals, and the reference numerals may be omitted for the other members.

[0023] <Shield connector 10> The shielded connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a terminal fitting 16 having a terminal connection portion 14 to be connected to a mating terminal 12, an insulating housing 18 that accommodates the terminal fitting 16, a shield shell 20 that covers the outer surface of the housing 18, an insulating heat dissipation member 22, and a spring member 26 that exerts an elastic force on a pressure-receiving surface 24 of the terminal fitting 16. In particular, in the first embodiment, a pair of terminal connection portions 14a, 14b are provided side by side in the left-right direction, and the shielded connector 10 includes a pair of terminal fittings 16a, 16b having the respective terminal connection portions 14a, 14b. The shielded connector 10 also includes a pair of housings 18a, 18b that accommodate the respective terminal fittings 16a, 16b.

[0024] <Other terminal 12> The shape of the mating terminal 12 is not limited, but in the first embodiment, it is a substantially flat tab shape. In the first embodiment, as described later, a mating terminal arrangement section 28 is provided inside the terminal connection section 14, and the mating terminal 12 is inserted into a mating terminal insertion hole 62 provided in the housing 18. The mating terminal 12 arranged in the mating terminal arrangement section 28 and the terminal connection section 14 of the terminal fitting 16 accommodated in the housing 18 are in contact with each other to be electrically connected. That is, in the first embodiment, the mating terminal 12 is a male terminal, and the terminal connection section 14 is a female terminal. In particular, in the first embodiment, a pair of terminal connection sections 14a and 14b are provided, and the mating terminals 12a and 12b are inserted into the terminal connection sections 14a and 14b, respectively.

[0025] <Terminal metal fitting 16> In the first embodiment, the pair of terminal fittings 16a, 16b are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, but since they are symmetrical in shape, the shape of one (right) terminal fitting 16a will be described. As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the terminal connection portion 14a of the terminal fitting 16a has a generally rectangular tubular shape extending in the front-rear direction, and opens on both sides in the front-rear direction in the shielded connector 10. That is, the terminal connection portion 14a has a lower wall portion 30 that constitutes a lower wall portion in the assembled state of the shielded connector 10, and a pair of opposing wall portions that protrude upward from both the left-right sides of the lower wall portion 30. In the right terminal fitting 16a of the pair of terminal fittings 16a, 16b, the wall portion on the outer side in the left-right direction (right side) is the outer wall portion 32, which is one of the pair of opposing walls, and the wall portion on the inner side in the left-right direction (left side) is the inner wall portion 34 of the pair of opposing walls. Therefore, in the left terminal fitting 16b, the wall portion on the left side is the outer wall portion 32, and the wall portion on the right side is the inner wall portion 34. As described below, the outer surface of each outer wall portion 32 is a contact surface 35 that comes into contact with a connection portion side contact surface 70 of each heat dissipation member 22 .

[0026] The upper ends of the outer wall 32 and the inner wall 34 are connected at both front-rear end portions, thereby forming the terminal connection part 14 having a substantially rectangular tubular shape. At a front-rear intermediate portion at the upper end of the terminal connection part 14, the outer wall 32 and the inner wall 34 are not connected, and an upper opening 36 that opens upward is provided. As a result, the mating terminal arrangement part 28, which is the internal space of the terminal connection part 14, and the external space are mutually communicated through the upper opening 36. As will be described later, the outer surface of the inner wall 34 (the left end surface of the inner wall 34 in the right terminal fitting 16a, and the right end surface of the inner wall 34 in the left terminal fitting 16b) is the pressure-receiving surface 24 on which the elastic force from the spring member 26 is applied.

[0027] Such a terminal fitting 16a is formed, for example, by bending a metal plate of a predetermined shape into the above-mentioned shape, and the upper ends of the outer wall portion 32 and the inner wall portion 34 can be connected by crimping. In the terminal fitting 16a, the outer wall portion 32 extends rearward beyond the inner wall portion 34, and an electric wire 38 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the outer wall portion 32 that extends rearward beyond the inner wall portion 34. That is, the rear end of the outer wall portion 32 is the electric wire connection portion 40, and the terminal fitting 16a has the terminal connection portion 14 provided in the front portion and the rear end serving as the electric wire connection portion 40.

[0028] The electric wire 38 is a coated electric wire, and an insulating coating 44 made of synthetic resin is fitted around a core wire 42. At the tip portion of the electric wire 38, the insulating coating 44 is stripped off to expose the core wire 42, and the exposed core wire 42 is fixed to the rear end portion (electric wire connection portion 40) of the terminal fitting 16a by crimping, welding, or the like, thereby providing electrical continuity between the electric wire 38 and the terminal fitting 16a. Note that a ring-shaped waterproof rubber 46 having a substantially rectangular outer shape is fitted and attached behind the portion of the electric wire 38 where the core wire 42 is exposed.

[0029] In each of the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b, a terminal spring part 48 is provided on the inner surface of the outer wall part 32 and the inner wall part 34 in the opposing direction. The terminal spring part 48 is generally in the shape of a rectangular plate, is made of a metal with good conductive properties, and is fixed to the inner surface of the outer wall part 32 and the inner wall part 34. The terminal spring part 48 has a part cut and raised in an approximately mountain shape that protrudes inward in the left-right direction, that is, toward the inside of the counterpart terminal arrangement part 28. A plurality of such cut and raised parts are provided and are aligned in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. When the counterpart terminal 12 is inserted and arranged in the counterpart terminal arrangement part 28 as described later, the part of the terminal spring part 48 that protrudes in an approximately mountain shape is pressed by the counterpart terminal 12, and the part that protrudes in an approximately mountain shape is elastically deformed so as to reduce the protruding height.

[0030] <Housing 18> In the first embodiment, a pair of housings 18a, 18b are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In particular, in the first embodiment, each of the housings 18a, 18b includes each of the housing bodies 49a, 49b, a holding member 68 assembled to each of the first openings 56 described later, and an insulating cover 78 assembled to each of the second openings 58. Since these are symmetrical in shape, the shape of one of the housings (the right one) 18a will be described. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the housing body 49a is generally cylindrical with a bottom that opens rearward as a whole, and is made of synthetic resin having insulating properties. Note that the method of forming the housing body 49a is not limited, but in the first embodiment, the housing body 49a is formed by molding, and is formed separately from the shield shell 20, the holding member 68, and the insulating cover 78, and each is later assembled.

[0031] The housing main body 49a is provided with a substantially rectangular front wall portion 50 corresponding to a bottom wall at the front end, and a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall portion 52 protruding rearward from the four peripheral edges of the front wall portion 50. Thus, the peripheral wall portion 52 includes an upper wall portion 54a at the top, a lower wall portion 54b at the bottom, and a left wall portion 54c and a right wall portion 54d at both the left and right sides. The peripheral wall portion 52 has an outer shape that differs in the front-rear direction, and the front portion of the peripheral wall portion 52 is substantially rectangular in shape with a larger vertical dimension than the left-right dimension. The rear portion of the peripheral wall portion 52 has a larger horizontal dimension than the front portion, and the horizontal dimension and the vertical dimension are substantially equal or the vertical dimension is slightly larger than the horizontal dimension. As a result, the rear portion of the peripheral wall portion 52 has a substantially square outer shape. That is, the internal space of the housing main body 49a is larger in the rear portion than in the front portion.

[0032] A first opening 56 is provided in the right wall 54d in the thickness direction (left-right direction) thereof, through which the heat dissipation member 22 is exposed from the housing body 49a when the heat dissipation member 22 (described later) is attached to the housing body 49a. The first opening 56 is provided across a portion of the right wall 54d that is larger in left-right dimension than the front portion in a rear portion from the front end portion, and the internal space and the external space of the housing body 49a communicate with each other through the first opening 56.

[0033] A second opening 58 is provided in the left wall 54c in the thickness direction (left-right direction) of the left wall 54c, which exposes the pressure-receiving surface 24 of the terminal fitting 16a from the housing body 49a when the terminal connection portion 14a (terminal fitting 16a) described later is attached to the housing body 49a. The second opening 58 is provided across a portion of the left wall 54c that is larger in left-right dimension than the front portion from the front end portion to the rear portion, and the internal space and the external space of the housing body 49a communicate with each other through the second opening 58.

[0034] Since the right and left housing bodies 49a, 49b are symmetrical to each other, the left housing body 49b has a first opening 56 in the left wall portion 54c and a second opening 58 in the right wall portion 54d. Furthermore, by providing the first and second openings 56, 58 in the housing body 49a, the housing body 49a has a shape in which the upper wall portion 54a and the lower wall portion 54b are connected only at the rear portion by the left wall portion 54c and the right wall portion 54d.

[0035] Furthermore, a positioning protrusion 60 protruding to the right is provided at the front end of the upper wall portion 54a. A substantially rectangular mating terminal insertion hole 62 penetrating in the thickness direction (vertical direction) is provided at the front part of the upper wall portion 54a. An insulating cover engagement protrusion 64 for assembling an insulating cover 78 described later and a holding member engagement protrusion 66 for assembling a holding member 68 are provided at a distance from each other in the front-rear direction at a part rearward of the mating terminal insertion hole 62 in the upper wall portion 54a. Two insulating cover engagement protrusions 64 and one holding member engagement protrusion 66 are provided at a distance from each other in the front-rear direction at the lower wall portion 54b, and each insulating cover engagement protrusion 64 is located forward of the holding member engagement protrusion 66.

[0036] <Heat dissipation member 22> The shape and material of the heat dissipation member 22 are not limited as long as it has insulating properties, but in this embodiment, the heat dissipation member 22 has a substantially flat plate shape. The heat dissipation member 22 only needs to have a thermal conductivity greater than that of air, but is preferably excellent in thermal conductivity, and is made of ceramic in this embodiment. The heat dissipation member 22 is assembled to cover the first opening 56 in each of the housing bodies 49a, 49b, and a holding member 68 that holds the heat dissipation member 22 from the outside of the heat dissipation member 22 is assembled to each of the housing bodies 49a, 49b, thereby fixing the heat dissipation member 22 to each of the housing bodies 49a, 49b.

[0037] When the shielded connector 10 is assembled, one surface (inner surface) in the thickness direction of each heat dissipation member 22 contacts each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b, and the one surface in the thickness direction of each heat dissipation member 22 constitutes a connection portion side contact surface 70. The other surface (outer surface) in the thickness direction of each heat dissipation member 22 is exposed to the outer surface of each housing main body 49a, 49b through the first opening 56 of each housing main body 49a, 49b, and contacts the shield shell 20 covering the outer surface of each housing main body 49a, 49b. In other words, the other surface in the thickness direction of the heat dissipation member 22 constitutes a shell side contact surface 72.

[0038] <Retaining member 68> The holding member 68 is assembled to the rear end portion of each of the first openings 56 in each of the housing bodies 49a, 49b to cover the rear end portion of each of the first openings 56. That is, each of the holding members 68 has a substantially plate-shaped holding member body 74 corresponding to the shape of each of the first openings 56. At both ends in the vertical direction of each of the holding member bodies 74, an engagement frame body 76 is provided that protrudes toward the housing body 49a, 49b to which it is assembled, and engages with each of the holding member engagement protrusions 66 provided on each of the housing bodies 49a, 49b. Then, by assembling each of the holding members 68 to each of the housing bodies 49a, 49b, each of the heat dissipation members 22 is held from the outside by the front end portion of each of the holding members 68, and each of the heat dissipation members 22 covers each of the first openings 56.

[0039] <Insulating cover 78> An insulating cover 78 is attached to each second opening 58 in each housing main body 49a, 49b. As shown in FIG. 9 and other figures, the insulating cover 78 includes a flat cover main body 80 large enough to cover each second opening 58, and an engagement frame 82 is provided at both ends of each cover main body 80 in the vertical direction, protruding toward each housing main body 49a, 49b to be attached. In the first embodiment, one engagement frame 82 is provided at the upper end of each cover main body 80 corresponding to each insulating cover engagement protrusion 64 provided on each housing main body 49a, 49b, and two engagement frames 82 are provided at the lower end of each cover main body 80, spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. These engagement frames 82 engage with the insulating cover engagement protrusions 64, so that the insulating cover 78 is attached to each housing main body 49a, 49b in a state where it covers each second opening 58 in each housing main body 49a, 49b.

[0040] Each cover body 80 of each insulating cover 78 is provided with a contact rib 84 and an engagement rib 86 that protrude inwardly of each housing body 49a, 49b when assembled into each second opening 58 of each housing body 49a, 49b.

[0041] The contact rib 84 protrudes toward each pressure receiving surface 24 of each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b (each terminal metal fitting 16a, 16b) accommodated inside each housing main body 49a, 49b in the assembled state of the shielded connector 10. Then, when each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b (each terminal metal fitting 16a, 16b) is assembled to each housing 18a, 18b as described later, the protruding tip of each contact rib 84 and each pressure receiving surface 24 are in contact with each other. In the first embodiment, three contact ribs 84 are provided in each cover main body 80, and each contact rib 84 is provided spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. In this way, each contact rib 84 of each insulating cover 78 contacts each pressure receiving surface 24, so that when the elastic force of each spring member 26 acts as described later, the spring member 26 exerts an elastic force on each pressure receiving surface 24 via each insulating cover 78.

[0042] The engaging rib 86 is located rearward of the inner wall portions 34 constituting the terminal connecting portions 14a, 14b in the assembled state of the shielded connector 10, and is provided rearward of the contact ribs 84 in the cover main body 80. The engaging ribs 86 protrude from the cover main body 80 to a greater extent than the contact ribs 84, and abut against or are slightly spaced from the rear end surfaces of the inner wall portions 34 constituting the terminal connecting portions 14a, 14b in the assembled state of the shielded connector 10. As a result, even when an external force is applied to the electric wires 38 in the direction of pulling them out of the housings 18a, 18b in the assembled state of the shielded connector 10, the engaging ribs 86 abut against and engage with the inner wall portions 34, thereby preventing the terminal fittings 16a, 16b from coming out of the housings 18a, 18b.

[0043] Then, the terminal fitting 16a to which the electric wire 38 is fixed at the electric wire connection portion 40 is inserted into the housing body 49a from the rear opening of the housing body 49a, the heat dissipation member 22 is overlapped on the outer wall portion 32 of the terminal fitting 16a, and further, the holding member 68 and the insulating cover 78 are fixed to the first and second openings 56, 58 of the housing body 49a, thereby forming one (right) terminal side assembly 88a as shown in Fig. 10. Similarly, the other (left) terminal side assembly 88b is formed symmetrically to the one terminal side assembly 88a, and the pair of terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b are assembled to a common shield shell 20.

[0044] <Shield Shell 20> The shield shell 20 is made of a metal having excellent heat dissipation properties. The shield shell 20 includes a pair of housing tubes 90a, 90b into which the terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b are inserted and housed, and the pair of housing tubes 90a, 90b are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. That is, the shield shell 20 has a generally bottomed cylindrical shape that opens rearward as a whole, and includes a generally rectangular front end wall 92 and a cylindrical wall 94 that protrudes rearward from the four peripheral edges of the front end wall 92. Thus, the cylindrical wall 94 includes an upper end wall 96a on the upper side, a lower end wall 96b on the lower side, and a left end wall 96c and a right end wall 96d on both the left and right sides. In addition, a partition wall 98 extending in the front-rear direction is provided in the center of the cylindrical wall 94 in the left-right direction, and the partition wall 98 divides the internal space of the shield shell 20 into left and right housing tubes 90a, 90b. A pair of storage sections 100, 100 opening outward in the left-right direction are provided in the front portion of the partition wall section 98, and each of these storage sections 100 communicates with the internal space of each of the storage tube sections 90a, 90b. Each storage section 100 is adapted to store a spring member 26, as described below.

[0045] A through window 102 penetrating in the thickness direction (vertical direction) is formed in the front part of the upper end wall portion 96a of the shield shell 20, and the front parts of the housing cylinder portions 90a, 90b communicate with the external space through the through window 102. The through window 102 is a substantially rounded rectangular shape whose left-right dimension is larger than its front-rear dimension, and each housing portion 100 provided in the partition wall portion 98 opens upward through the through window 102. Furthermore, in the upper end wall portion 96a of the shield shell 20, a substantially annular inner peripheral support portion 104 extending substantially the entire circumference in the circumferential direction and a substantially annular outer peripheral hood portion 106 protruding upward on the outer circumferential side of the inner peripheral support portion 104 are integrally formed with the shield shell 20 on the peripheral edge portion of the through window 102.

[0046] An insulating cap 108 is attached to the through window 102 in the shield shell 20. The insulating cap 108 has a generally bottomed cylindrical shape, and includes a bottom plate portion 110 having a generally rounded rectangular shape that is generally the same shape as the through window 102, and a cylindrical portion 112 that protrudes upward from the outer periphery of the bottom plate portion 110. A generally annular flange portion 114 that protrudes to the outer periphery is integrally formed at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 112. In addition, in an assembled state of the shield connector 10, a generally rectangular counterpart terminal insertion hole 116 is formed in the bottom plate portion 110 at a position corresponding to each counterpart terminal insertion hole 62 in each housing 18a, 18b. As a result, the internal space (each counterpart terminal arrangement portion 28) in each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b in each housing 18a, 18b communicates with the external space through each counterpart terminal insertion hole 62 and each counterpart terminal insertion hole 116.

[0047] A partition 118 is provided in the left-right middle portion of the insulating cap 108 to divide the internal space of the insulating cap 108 into left and right portions, and the partition 118 has a predetermined left-right dimension. When the insulating cap 108 is assembled to the shield shell 20, the partition 118 is configured to overlap with the partition wall portion 98 in the vertical direction. As a result, when the insulating cap 108 is assembled to the shield shell 20, each of the accommodating portions 100 provided in the partition wall portion 98 is covered from above by the partition 118. As a result, the partition 118 prevents each of the spring members 26 accommodated in each of the accommodating portions 100 from slipping out upward, and in the first embodiment, the partition 118 constitutes a spring member cover portion.

[0048] <Spring member 26> 11, the spring member 26 is a leaf spring formed by bending a thin metal flat plate, and has a pair of flat plate-like portions 120, 120 and a folded-back portion 122 provided between these flat plate-like portions 120, 120. In other words, the pair of flat plate-like portions 120, 120 face each other in the left-right direction when the shielded connector 10 is in an assembled state, and the spring member 26 is elastically deformable in a direction in which the flat plate-like portions 120 move toward or away from each other as the folded-back portion 122 deforms.

[0049] A pressing portion 124 that protrudes outward in the facing direction (outward in the left-right direction) is provided at the middle portion of each flat plate-like portion 120. As shown in Fig. 11, the left-right dimension between the protruding tips of each pressing portion 124 in a single state before assembly is made larger than the left-right dimension between the bottom surface (both left and right surfaces of the partition wall portion 98) of each accommodating portion 100 in the shield shell 20 and the left-right inner surface of each terminal side assembly 88a, 88b (the surface of each insulating cover 78 opposite to the surface from which each contact rib 84 protrudes in the cover main body 80). As a result, when each spring member 26 is accommodated in each accommodating portion 100, each pressing portion 124 is pressed against the partition wall portion 98 and each insulating cover 78, and each flat plate-like portion 120 is elastically deformed inward in the facing direction. An elastic restoring force against this elastic deformation is exerted on the partition wall portion 98 and each of the insulating covers 78 , urging each of the terminal side assemblies 88 a , 88 b in a direction away from the partition wall portion 98 .

[0050] <Assembly process of the shield connector 10> Next, a specific example of the process for assembling the shielded connector 10 will be described. Note that the process for assembling the shielded connector 10 is not limited to the following description.

[0051] First, for example, a metal plate of a predetermined shape is bent with the terminal spring portion 48 fixed thereto to form the terminal fittings 16a, 16b having the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b. After that, the electric wires 38 are fixed to the electric wire connection portions 40 of the terminal fittings 16a, 16b. The waterproof rubber 46 is fitted onto the electric wires 38 at any time. Then, the terminal fittings 16a, 16b to which the electric wires 38 are fixed are inserted into the housing bodies 49a, 49b, and the heat dissipation member 22 is overlapped from the outside against the contact surface 35, which is the outer surface of the outer wall portion 32 constituting the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b, and the holding member 68 is fixed to the housing bodies 49a, 49b from the outside of the heat dissipation member 22. Also, the insulating covers 78 are assembled to the housing bodies 49a, 49b. This completes the terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b.

[0052] Then, the terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b are inserted from the rear openings of the housing tubular portions 90a, 90b in the shield shell 20, and the waterproof rubbers 46 are press-fitted into the rear openings of the housing tubular portions 90a, 90b. Next, the spring members 26 are inserted from above into the housing portions 100 in the shield shell 20 through the through windows 102 in a press-fit state and accommodated. Then, the flange-shaped portion 114 of the insulating cap 108 is overlapped with the inner peripheral support portion 104 in the shield shell 20, and the cylindrical portion 112 is fitted into the inner peripheral support portion 104. The insulating cap 108 is fixed to the inner peripheral support portion 104 by, for example, a concave-convex fit or a lock structure (not shown), and the insulating cap 108 covers the through window 102 by fixing the insulating cap 108 to the inner peripheral support portion 104. This completes the shield connector 10 of the first embodiment.

[0053] In the shielded connector 10 of the first embodiment manufactured as described above, the elastic restoring force of each spring member 26 urges each terminal side assembly 88a, 88b in a direction away from the partition wall portion 98, and each heat dissipation member 22 exposed on the outer surface of each terminal side assembly 88a, 88b is pressed against the inner surface of the shield shell 20 located further outward (i.e., the inner surfaces of the right end wall portion 96d and the left end wall portion 96c). Specifically, the elastic force of each spring member 26 is exerted on each terminal fitting 16a, 16b (each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b) via each insulating cover 78. Each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b pressed by each spring member 26 has each contact surface 35 contacting and being pressed against the connection portion side contact surface 70 of each heat dissipation member 22, and the shell side contact surface 72 of each heat dissipation member 22 thus pressed is pressed against the inner surface of the outer shield shell 20.

[0054] In this state, the mating terminals 12a, 12b are inserted from above through the mating terminal insertion holes 116 in the insulating cap 108, the mating terminal insertion holes 62 in the housings 18a, 18b, and the upper openings 36 in the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b, and the mating terminals 12a, 12b are arranged in the mating terminal arrangement portions 28 in the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b, as shown in Fig. 12. As a result, the terminal spring portions 48 are pressed between the mating terminals 12a, 12b and the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b, so that the mating terminals 12a, 12b and the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b are more reliably brought into a conductive state. Heat generated as a result of current flow between the mating terminals 12 and the terminal connection portions 14 is dissipated from the outer wall portions 32 of the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b through the heat dissipation members 22, and from the shield shell 20 to the outside.

[0055] In the first embodiment, since the rear end of each of the terminal fittings 16a, 16b is provided with the electric wire connection parts 40 to which the core wires 42 of the electric wires 38 are fixed, not only heat generated at the contact parts between the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b and the mating terminals 12a, 12b but also heat generated at the connection parts between the electric wire connection parts 40 and the core wires 42 can be dissipated via the heat dissipation members 22. That is, in addition to heat generated between the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b and the mating terminals 12, heat generated at the connection parts between the electric wire connection parts 40 and the core wires 42, which generate a relatively large amount of heat, is also dissipated via the heat dissipation members 22 and the shield shell 20, thereby achieving good heat dissipation.

[0056] According to the shielded connector 10 of the first embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, the heat dissipation members 22 are provided on the heat dissipation path from the heat generating portion caused by the current passing between the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b and the mating terminals 12a, 12b to the outside via the shield shell 20, and the heat dissipation members 22 having a relatively small thermal resistance (excellent thermal conductivity) are used for the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b instead of a resin material having a relatively large thermal resistance, so that good heat dissipation performance is exhibited. In particular, since the shielded connector 10 of the first embodiment is assembled rather than insert molded as in the conventional structure, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of an air layer on the heat dissipation path due to the occurrence of short shots or voids, and thus to prevent a decrease in heat dissipation performance. Furthermore, for example, when the environmental temperature changes significantly, in the conventional structure, there was a risk of gaps (air layers) occurring between members made of different materials due to differences in linear expansion coefficients, but in the shielded connector 10 of embodiment 1, when the mating terminals 12a, 12b are arranged in the mating terminal arrangement portions 28, spring members 26 are provided that press the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b against the heat dissipation members 22 and press the heat dissipation members 22 against the shield shell 20. As a result, even when the environmental temperature changes significantly, gaps are suppressed from occurring between the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b and the heat dissipation members 22 and between the heat dissipation members 22 and the shield shell 20, preventing a decrease in heat dissipation performance.

[0057] Furthermore, the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b, which tend to heat up and become hot when current is passed between the mating terminals 12a, 12b, can be brought into contact with the shield shell 20 via the heat dissipation members 22, and the heat dissipation path can be set to be short, improving heat dissipation performance. Since the heat dissipation performance is improved as described above, it is also possible to miniaturize the shield shell 20, which is responsible for dissipating heat to the outside, which in turn allows the entire shield connector 10 to be miniaturized and costs to be reduced by reducing the amount of material required.

[0058] Each of the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b has a rectangular tube shape, and the inside of each of the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b is a counterpart terminal arrangement part 28 into which each of the counterpart terminals 12a, 12b is inserted. In addition, in the pair of opposing walls of the outer wall part 32 and the inner wall part 34 of each of the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b, the outer surface of the inner wall part 34 is a pressure receiving surface 24 that receives the elastic force of each of the spring members 26, and the outer surface of the outer wall part 32 is a contact surface 35 that contacts each of the connection part side contact surfaces 70 of each of the heat dissipation members 22. That is, the pressure receiving surface 24 and the contact surface 35 can be provided on separate wall parts, and each of the surfaces 24, 35 can be formed with a sufficiently large area. Therefore, the heat generated by the current passing between each of the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b and each of the counterpart terminals 12a, 12b can be reliably transferred by each of the heat dissipation members 22 while more reliably receiving the elastic force of each of the spring members 26.

[0059] Furthermore, since each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b is formed in a rectangular tube shape with the terminal spring portion 48 provided therein, when assembling each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b to manufacture each terminal side assembly 88a, 88b and the shielded connector 10, it is possible to prevent other components from coming into contact with the terminal spring portion 48 and causing the terminal spring portion 48 to deform, and it is possible to more reliably achieve a contact state between each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b and each mating terminal 12a, 12b.

[0060] Each of the housings 18a, 18b (each of the housing bodies 49a, 49b) has a second opening 58 that exposes the pressure-receiving surfaces 24 of the terminal fittings 16a, 16b, and an insulating cover 78 is attached to each of the second openings 58. This allows the elastic force of each of the spring members 26 to be applied to each of the pressure-receiving surfaces 24 via each of the insulating covers 78 while ensuring insulation between each of the spring members 26 and each of the terminal connecting portions 14a, 14b, even when each of the spring members 26 is made of metal as in the first embodiment.

[0061] In particular, each insulating cover 78 is provided with a contact rib 84, and when each terminal side assembly 88a, 88b is assembled, each contact rib 84 comes into contact with each pressure-receiving surface 24. Since a plurality of contact ribs 84 (three in the first embodiment) are provided on each insulating cover 78, each contact rib 84 is formed relatively small, and the influence of, for example, sinking of the resin, can be reduced. As a result, each contact rib 84 can be brought into contact with each pressure-receiving surface 24 more reliably, and the elastic force of each spring member 26 can be applied more reliably to each pressure-receiving surface 24 of each terminal connection portion 14a, 14b via each insulating cover 78.

[0062] Each insulating cover 78 has engaging ribs 86 that engage with the terminal connecting portions 14a, 14b to prevent the terminal fittings 16a, 16b from slipping out of the housings 18a, 18b. Specifically, in the assembled state of the shielded connector 10, the inner wall portions 34 of the terminal connecting portions 14a, 14b and the engaging ribs 86 are in contact with each other or are slightly spaced apart from each other, and even if an external force is applied to the electric wires 38 in the direction of pulling them out of the housings 18a, 18b, the inner wall portions 34 come into contact with and engage with the engaging ribs 86, thereby preventing the terminal fittings 16a, 16b from slipping out of the housings 18a, 18b. This allows the assembled state of the shielded connector 10 to be stably maintained.

[0063] A holding member 68 for holding each heat dissipation member 22 is assembled in each of the first openings 56 in each of the housings 18a, 18b. That is, in the first embodiment, when assembling the shielded connector 10, the terminal fittings 16a, 16b to which the electric wires 38 are fixed, the housing bodies 49a, 49b, the heat dissipation members 22, the holding members 68, and the insulating covers 78 are assembled to form the terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b, and therefore, the holding members 68 for holding each heat dissipation member 22 are provided, thereby preventing each heat dissipation member 22 from falling off from each of the terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b. Therefore, not only is the manufacturing efficiency of the terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b, and thus the shielded connector 10, improved, but good heat dissipation properties of the shielded connector 10 can be stably maintained.

[0064] The shield shell 20 is provided with the respective accommodating portions 100 that accommodate the respective spring members 26. In the first embodiment, the respective accommodating portions 100 are provided in the partition wall portion 98 that separates the left and right accommodating cylindrical portions 90a, 90b in the shield shell 20, and therefore the respective accommodating portions 100 can be provided with good space efficiency, and the shield shell 20, and therefore the shield connector 10, can be made smaller.

[0065] In particular, each spring member 26 is inserted from above into each accommodating section 100 through a through window 102, and an insulating cap 108 having a spring member cover section (partition section 118) is attached to this through window 102. This prevents each spring member 26 from slipping out of each accommodating section 100. Also, a mating terminal insertion hole 116 is provided in the insulating cap 108. That is, the portion through which each mating terminal 12a, 12b can be inserted and the portion that prevents each spring member 26 from slipping out are provided in the same member (insulating cap 108), and an increase in the number of parts is avoided compared to when these portions are provided in separate members.

[0066] <Embodiment 2> Next, a shielded connector 130 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 13 to Fig. 15. The basic structure of the shielded connector 130 according to the second embodiment is similar to that of the shielded connector 10 according to the first embodiment, and only the structure of the spring member 132 is different. In the following description, the same members and parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0067] That is, in the shielded connector 130 of the second embodiment, similarly to the shielded connector 10 of the first embodiment, a pair of terminal fittings 16a, 16b are housed in a pair of housings 18a, 18b, respectively, and each of the housings 18a, 18b has a heat dissipation member 22. Also, the terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b are arranged such that the pressure receiving surfaces 24 of the terminal connection portions 14a, 14b face each other, and each of these terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b is covered by a single shield shell 20.

[0068] Here, while a pair of spring members 26, 26 are provided in the first embodiment, a single spring member 132 is employed in the second embodiment as shown in Figures 13 to 15. The structure of the spring member 132 is similar to that of the spring member 26 in the first embodiment, and includes a pair of flat plate-like portions 120, 120 each having a pressing portion 124, and the upper ends of the flat plate-like portions 120 are connected by a connecting portion 134 having a predetermined length dimension (left-right dimension) instead of the folded-back portion 122. This allows the flat plate-like portions 120 to be elastically deformed in the direction of approaching or separating from each other as bending portions 136 at both ends of the connecting portion 134 deform.

[0069] The spring member 132 having such a shape is disposed so as to straddle the portion where each accommodating portion 100 is formed in the partition wall portion 98. That is, each flat portion 120 is inserted into each accommodating portion 100, and the connecting portion 134 is located above the partition wall portion 98. In the spring member 132 of the second embodiment, the left-right dimension between the protruding tips of each pressing portion 124 in a single state before being assembled as shown in FIG. 15 is larger than the left-right dimension between the inner surfaces (surfaces of each insulating cover 78 opposite to the surface where each contact rib 84 protrudes in the cover body 80) of the terminal side assemblies 88a, 88b facing each other on the left and right. As a result, when each flat portion 120 is inserted into each accommodating portion 100 and the spring member 132 is disposed, each pressing portion 124 is pressed against each insulating cover 78 on both the left and right sides, and each flat portion 120 is elastically deformed inward in the facing direction. An elastic restoring force against this elastic deformation acts on each insulating cover 78, urging each terminal side assembly 88a, 88b in a direction separating them from each other.

[0070] As a result, the elastic force of the spring member 132 is applied to the pressure receiving surfaces 24 of the pair of terminal fittings 16a, 16b, and the terminal connection parts 14a, 14b are pressed against the connection part side contact surfaces 70 of the heat dissipation members 22, and the shell side contact surfaces 72 of the heat dissipation members 22 are pressed against the shield shell 20. As a result, the shield connector 130 of the second embodiment can achieve the same effect as the shield connector 10 of the first embodiment. In particular, since the single spring member 132 is used in the second embodiment, the number of parts can be reduced, and the pressing forces on the heat dissipation members 22 via the left and right terminal connection parts 14a, 14b can be made substantially equal, thereby suppressing the variation in heat dissipation performance. In addition, compared to the case where a pair of spring members 26, 26 are provided as in the first embodiment, the arrangement space of the spring member 132 can be made smaller, and the shield shell 20 and, therefore, the shield connector 130 can be made smaller.

[0071] <Other embodiments> The technology described in this specification is not limited to the embodiments described in the above description and drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the technology described in this specification.

[0072] (1) In the above embodiment, the spring member 26 ,132 However, the present invention is not limited to a leaf spring formed by bending a thin metal plate, and may be, for example, a coil spring, which may be placed in a housing provided in the shield shell and apply an elastic force to the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting.

[0073] (2) In the first embodiment, a two-pole structure having two terminals is used, but this is not limited thereto, and a one-pole structure or a three-pole or more structure may be used. Also, in the second embodiment, a single spring member 132 is disposed between the two-pole terminals, but it is sufficient that the terminals have two or more poles, and two of the two or more poles may be selected and a single spring member may be disposed between the terminals.

[0074] (3) In the above embodiment, the heat dissipation member 22 has a substantially flat plate shape and is made of ceramic, but the heat dissipation member is not limited to this as long as it has insulating properties. The heat dissipation member may be made of, for example, a synthetic resin having a higher thermal conductivity than air, in addition to ceramic, but it is preferable that the thermal conductivity is higher than that of the synthetic resin constituting the housing (housing body). Specifically, silicone-based resin, non-silicone acrylic resin, ceramic-based resin, etc. can be used. More specifically, examples of the heat dissipation member include a heat dissipation sheet, a heat dissipation gap filler, a heat conductive grease, and a heat conductive silicone rubber, which are made of a silicone-based resin. In the above embodiment, the terminal connection parts 14a and 14b are in direct contact with the heat dissipation member 22, and the heat dissipation member 22 is in direct contact with the shield shell 20, but the above-mentioned heat dissipation sheet, heat dissipation gap filler, heat conductive grease, etc. may be interposed between these members.

[0075] (4) The shapes of the housing and the shield shell are not limited. The insulating cover and the holding member are not essential to the housing. The peripheral hood portion is not essential to the shield shell, and the shape of the insulating cap is not limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 10 Shielded connector (embodiment 1) 12, 12a, 12b Counterpart terminal 14, 14a, 14b Terminal connection part 16, 16a, 16b Terminal fittings 18,18a,18b Housing 20 Shield Shell 22 Heat dissipation material 24 Pressure surface 26 Spring parts 28 Counterpart terminal arrangement section 30 Lower wall part 32 Outer wall (opposing wall) 34 Inner wall (opposing wall) 35 Contact surface 36 Upper opening 38 Electric wire 40 Wire connection 42 core wire 44 Insulation coating 46 Waterproof Rubber 48 Terminal spring part 49a, 49b Housing body 50 Front wall 52 Peripheral wall section 54a Upper wall part 54b Lower wall part 54c Left wall section 54d Right wall section 56 First Opening 58 Second Opening 60 Positioning protrusion 62 Counterpart terminal insertion hole 64 Insulating cover engagement protrusion 66 Engagement protrusion for holding member 68 Retaining member 70 Connection side contact surface 72 Shell side contact surface 74 Retaining member body 76 Engagement frame 78 Insulating cover 80 Cover body 82 Engagement frame 84 Contact Rib 86 Engagement rib 88a,88b Terminal side assembly 90a, 90b Housing tube 92 Front end wall 94 Cylindrical wall 96a Upper end wall 96b Lower end wall 96c Left end wall 96d Right end wall 98 Partition wall 100 Storage unit 102 Through window 104 Inner circumference support part 106 Outer hood part 108 Insulating Cap 110 Bottom plate part 112 Cylindrical section 114 Flange-shaped part 116 Counterpart terminal insertion hole 118 Partition section (spring member cover section) 120 Flat plate part 122 Folded part 124 Pressing part 130 Shielded connector (embodiment 2) 132 Spring parts 134 Connection section 136 Bending section

Claims

1. A terminal fitting having a terminal connection portion to be connected to a mating terminal; an insulating housing that accommodates the terminal fitting; a shield shell covering an outer surface of the housing; an insulating heat dissipation member having a connection portion side contact surface that contacts the terminal connection portion and a shell side contact surface that is exposed from a first opening of the housing and contacts the shield shell; A spring member that exerts an elastic force on the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal metal fitting, A shielded connector in which the elastic force of the spring member acting on the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting presses the terminal connection portion against the connection portion side contact surface of the heat dissipation member, and the shell side contact surface of the heat dissipation member against the shield shell.

2. The terminal connection portion of the terminal fitting has a rectangular tubular shape, A mating terminal arrangement portion into which the mating terminal is inserted is configured inside the terminal connection portion, 2. The shielded connector as described in claim 1, wherein the pressure-receiving surface is formed by one of a pair of opposing wall portions of the terminal connection portion, the contact surface is formed by the other of the pair of opposing wall portions, and the contact surface contacts and is pressed against the connection portion side contact surface of the heat dissipation member.

3. the housing includes a second opening that exposes the pressure-receiving surface of the terminal fitting, and an insulating cover that is assembled to the second opening and comes into contact with the pressure-receiving surface, 3. The shielded connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring member exerts the elastic force on the pressure-receiving surface via the insulating cover.

4. 4. The shielded connector according to claim 3, wherein the insulating cover has a flat cover body covering the second opening, and a plurality of contact ribs protruding from the cover body toward the pressure-receiving surface and contacting the pressure-receiving surface.

5. 5. The shielded connector according to claim 3, wherein the insulating cover has an engagement rib that engages with the terminal connection portion to prevent the terminal fittings from slipping out of the housing.

6. 6. The shielded connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a holding member that is assembled to the first opening and holds the heat dissipation member.

7. a pair of the housings accommodating the pair of the terminal fittings, each of the housings including the heat dissipation member, and the pair of the housings are covered by the single shield shell in a state in which the pressure receiving surfaces of the pair of the housings face each other; A single spring member is disposed between the pair of housings, 7. A shielded connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the elastic force of the spring member is exerted against the pressure-receiving surfaces of each of the pair of terminal fittings, such that each of the terminal connection portions is pressed against each of the connection portion side contact surfaces of each of the heat dissipation members, and each of the shell side contact surfaces of each of the heat dissipation members is pressed against the shield shell.

8. The shielded connector according to claim 1 , wherein the shield shell has a housing portion that houses the spring member.

9. an insulating cap that covers the housing portion of the shield shell and is assembled to the shield shell; 9. The shielded connector according to claim 8, wherein the insulating cap is integrally provided with a mating terminal insertion hole and a spring member cover portion.

Images