Connector structure

Abstract

A connector structure (10) comprises a holding structure (16) provided between a female terminal support base (44) of a female connector (12) and a male terminal support base (98) of a male connector (14). When a female terminal (42) of the female connector (12) and a male terminal (40) of the male connector (14) are connected, the holding structure (16) urges the male terminal support base (98) in a second direction, and regulates the relative movement of the female terminal support base (44) and the male terminal support base (98) in the second direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector structure including a female connector and a male connector. [Background technology]

[0002] International Publication No. 2021 / 010433 discloses a connector structure including a male connector provided on an electric vehicle and a female connector provided on a battery pack for supplying power to the electric vehicle. The male connector has a male terminal and a resin male terminal support base that supports the male terminal. The female connector has a female terminal and a resin female terminal support base that supports the female terminal. Summary of the Invention

[0003] When the female connector and the male connector are connected and the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base are capable of relative movement in a direction perpendicular to the connector connection direction, when inertial force acts on the connector structure, the relative movement between the female terminal and the male terminal may cause wear at the contact points between the female terminal and the male terminal due to sliding.

[0004] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a female connector including a female terminal and a female terminal support base that supports the female terminal; a male connector having a male terminal inserted into the female terminal and connected to the female terminal and a male terminal support base supporting the male terminal, the male connector being connected to the female connector; In a connected state of the female terminal and the male terminal, the female terminal and the male terminal come into contact with each other, thereby restricting relative movement between the female terminal and the male terminal in a first direction perpendicular to a connection direction between the male connector and the female connector, A retaining structure is provided between the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base, and urges the female terminal support base or the male terminal support base in a second direction perpendicular to the connection direction and the first direction, thereby restricting relative movement between the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base in the second direction.

[0005] According to the present invention, when connecting the female terminal of the female connector and the male terminal of the male connector, the holding structure biases the female terminal support base or the male terminal support base in the second direction, thereby suppressing relative movement between the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base in the second direction. This suppresses sliding between the female terminal and the male terminal along the second direction, suppressing wear of the male terminal and the female terminal, and improving durability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector and a male connector of a connector structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a battery pack including the female connector shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of an electric vehicle equipped with the male connector shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the first pin member and the first pin hole in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the female connector shown in FIG. 6 is connected to the male connector. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the spring member. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the female connector shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a male connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] As shown in FIG. 1, a connector structure 10 according to this embodiment includes a female connector 12, a male connector 14, and a retaining structure 16.

[0008] The female connector 12 is provided, for example, in a battery pack 18 shown in Fig. 2. The male connector 14 is provided, for example, in an electric vehicle 20 in which the battery pack 18 is accommodated, as shown in Fig. 3. The female connector 12 arranged on the battery pack 18 and the male connector 14 arranged on the electric vehicle 20 are connectable. Below, a case in which the female connector 12 is provided on the battery pack 18 and the male connector 14 is provided on the electric vehicle 20 will be described.

[0009] First, the battery pack 18 having the female connector 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0010] The battery pack 18 has a case 22 and a female connector 12. The female connector 12 is the battery side connector in the connector structure 10. A battery core pack (not shown) holding multiple battery cells is housed inside the case 22. The battery cells are, for example, lithium secondary batteries, and can be repeatedly charged and discharged.

[0011] The case 22 has a case body 24 , a top case 26 fixed to an upper part of the case body 24 , and a bottom case 28 fixed to a lower part of the case body 24 .

[0012] The top case 26 has a handle 30. A user can hold the handle 30. The user can hold the handle 30 to attach and detach the battery pack 18 to and from a battery pack storage section 34 of the electric vehicle 20 or a charging device (not shown) (see FIG. 3). The female connector 12 is disposed on the bottom of the bottom case 28.

[0013] Next, an electric vehicle 20 equipped with the male connector 14 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0014] The electric vehicle 20 is, for example, a straddle-type electric motorcycle. Note that the electric vehicle 20 may also be an electrically assisted bicycle, an electric car, or the like.

[0015] The electric vehicle 20 is a vehicle supplied with power from a battery pack 18. The electric vehicle 20 includes a drive motor 32 which is a driving force source for traveling. For example, the electric vehicle 20 can travel when power from the battery pack 18 is supplied to the drive motor 32. The electric vehicle 20 includes a battery pack storage section 34. The battery pack storage section 34 is provided inside a seat holding section 38 which holds a seat 36. The battery pack storage section 34 is a space capable of storing the battery pack 18 inside.

[0016] By rotating the seat 36 relative to the seat holding portion 38 in a direction away from the seat holding portion 38, the upper part of the battery pack storage portion 34 is opened. This makes it possible to store the battery pack 18 in the battery pack storage portion 34 or to remove the battery pack 18 from the battery pack storage portion 34. The battery pack 18 is detachably stored in the battery pack storage portion 34.

[0017] A male connector 14 is provided on the bottom of the battery pack storage section 34. When the battery pack 18 is stored in the battery pack storage section 34, a male terminal 40 of the male connector 14 and a female terminal 42 of the female connector 12 provided on the battery pack 18 are electrically connected. Electric power from the battery pack 18 can be supplied to the electric vehicle 20 via the male terminal 40 and the female terminal 42 that are connected to each other.

[0018] Next, the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 that constitute the connector structure 10 will be described.

[0019] 1, the female connector 12 includes a female terminal support base (first support base) 44 and a plurality of female terminals 42. The female terminal support base 44 is formed from a resin material. The female terminal support base 44 has a first terminal support portion 46 that supports the plurality of female terminals 42.

[0020] Hereinafter, the connection direction (connector connection direction) of the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 shown in FIG. 1 is referred to as the arrow Z direction. A direction perpendicular to the connector connection direction, in which the female terminal 42 and the male terminal 40 come into contact with each other to restrict relative movement between them, is referred to as the X direction or the first direction. A direction perpendicular to the connector connection direction (arrow Z direction) and the first direction (arrow X direction) is referred to as the arrow Y direction or the second direction (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 3, the second direction (arrow Y direction) is the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle 20 on which the battery pack 18 is mounted. One side of the second direction (arrow Y1 direction) is the rear of the electric vehicle 20, and the other side of the second direction (arrow Y2 direction) is the front of the electric vehicle 20. In addition, the second direction (arrow Y direction) is not limited to the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle 20. By setting the second direction to the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle 20, it is possible to make the holding direction of the spring member 128, which will be described later, coincide with the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle 20.

[0021] 4, the first terminal support portion 46 extends in a first direction (the direction of the arrow X). The first terminal support portion 46 has a pair of first fastening portions 48a, 48b and a pair of second fastening portions (fastening portions) 50a, 50b.

[0022] The pair of first fastening portions 48a, 48b are respectively disposed on both ends in the first direction of the first terminal support portion 46. The pair of second fastening portions 50a, 50b are respectively disposed on both ends in the first direction of the first terminal support portion 46.

[0023] The second fastening portions 50a, 50b are disposed at one end of the first terminal support portion 46 in the second direction (the direction of arrow Y1). The second fastening portions 50a, 50b protrude from the first terminal support portion 46 in the direction of arrow Y1. The pair of first fastening portions 48a, 48b each have a fastening hole 54a through which a fastening bolt serving as the fastening member 52 is inserted. The pair of second fastening portions 50a, 50b each have a fastening hole 54b through which a fastening bolt serving as the fastening member 52 is inserted.

[0024] The first fastening portions 48a, 48b and the second fastening portions 50a, 50b are fixed to the bottom of the bottom case 28 by the fastening members 52 inserted into the fastening holes 54a, 54b. This causes the female terminal support base 44 of the female connector 12 to be fixed to the bottom of the battery pack 18 (see FIG. 2).

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the first terminal support portion 46 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 55, an insertion space 56, an accommodating portion 58 (see FIG. 4), a first mounting hole 60a, and a second mounting hole 60b.

[0026] The multiple terminal accommodating chambers 55 open to a lower surface 461 of the first terminal support portion 46. The terminal accommodating chambers 55 are arranged in parallel at equal intervals along a first direction (direction of arrow X) of the first terminal support portion 46. The multiple terminal accommodating chambers 55 accommodate multiple female terminals 42.

[0027] The terminal accommodating chambers 55 are covered by a cover member 62. The cover member 62 is made of a resin material and is attached to the lower surface 461 of the first terminal support portion 46. The open lower portions of the terminal accommodating chambers 55 are covered by the cover member 62. The cover member 62 has a plurality of insertion holes 64 facing the female terminals 42. When the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are connected to each other, the male terminals 40 are inserted into the insertion holes 64 (see FIG. 1).

[0028] As shown in Fig. 4, the insertion space 56 is disposed on the other side of the second direction (arrow Y2 direction) of the terminal accommodating chambers 55. The insertion space 56 communicates with each terminal accommodating chamber 55. The insertion space 56 is surrounded by an outer wall 66 that constitutes the other side of the second direction (arrow Y2 direction) of the first terminal support portion 46. The insertion space 56 opens to a lower surface 461 (see Fig. 6) of the first terminal support portion 46. When the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are connected, a support wall portion 104 of the male connector 14, which will be described later, is inserted into the insertion space 56.

[0029] 4, the insertion space 56 extends along the first direction (the direction of the arrow X) of the first terminal support portion 46. The insertion space 56 is formed by being recessed upward from the lower surface 461 of the first terminal support portion 46 (see FIG. 7).

[0030] 4, the insertion space 56 has a pair of spaces 68a, 68b at both ends in the first direction. The spaces 68a, 68b extend from both ends in the first direction toward one side in the second direction (the direction of the arrow Y1). The spaces 68a, 68b are each located outward in the first direction from the two terminal accommodating chambers 55 located at both ends in the first direction.

[0031] One end of the spaces 68a, 68b in the second direction faces a second holding portion 16b of the first terminal support portion 46, which will be described later.

[0032] The accommodating portion 58 is capable of accommodating a first retaining portion 16a of the retaining structure 16 described below. The accommodating portion 58 is arranged on the other side of the second direction (the direction of the arrow Y2) of the insertion space 56. The accommodating portion 58 is arranged on an outer wall 66 surrounding the insertion space 56. A plurality of accommodating portions 58 are arranged along the extension direction of the outer wall 66. The number of accommodating portions 58 corresponds to the number of spring members 128 in the first retaining portion 16a. The plurality of accommodating portions 58 are arranged at equal intervals along the first direction (the direction of the arrow X). Below, a case where three accommodating portions 58 and spring members 128 are provided will be described.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the accommodation portion 58 is a slit hole 72 formed inside the outer wall 66. The dimension of the slit hole 72 in the second direction is smaller than the width dimension of the slit hole 72 in the first direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the lower end of the slit hole 72 opens to the lower surface 461 of the first terminal support portion 46 (outer wall 66). The lower end of the slit hole 72 has an opening 74 into which the first holding portion 16a can be inserted (see FIG. 6). That is, the slit hole 72 opens in the connection direction of the male terminal support base 98 to the female terminal support base 44. The upper end and the X-direction end of the slit hole 72 have support portions 76 into which the outer periphery of the first holding portion 16a is inserted and supported.

[0034] 1, the first and second mounting holes 60a, 60b are disposed on both sides of the first terminal support portion 46 in the first direction (the direction of the arrow X). The first and second mounting holes 60a, 60b are disposed in parallel with the female terminals 42 of the first terminal support portion 46.

[0035] The first mounting hole 60a is disposed at one end in the first direction of the first terminal support portion 46. The second mounting hole 60b is disposed at the other end in the first direction of the first terminal support portion 46. The first mounting hole 60a and the second mounting hole 60b are disposed spaced apart from each other in the first direction (the direction of the arrow X).

[0036] The first and second mounting holes 60a, 60b are arranged in parallel with the terminal accommodating chamber 55 and the female terminal 42 along the first direction. The first and second mounting holes 60a, 60b are each arranged outside the terminal accommodating chamber 55 in the first direction. The first and second mounting holes 60a, 60b open to the lower surface 461 of the first terminal support portion 46. The diameters of the first and second mounting holes 60a, 60b are each approximately constant along the vertical direction (arrow Z direction) of the first terminal support portion 46.

[0037] A first reinforcing member 78 is provided inside the first mounting hole 60a. A second reinforcing member 80 is provided inside the second mounting hole 60b. The first and second reinforcing members 78, 80 are each made of a metal material. The first and second reinforcing members 78, 80 are formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The lower end of the first reinforcing member 78 is open. The lower end of the second reinforcing member 80 is open. The lower surfaces of the first and second reinforcing members 78, 80 are flush with the lower surface 461 of the first terminal support portion 46.

[0038] The first reinforcing member 78 has a first pin hole 82 at its center. When the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are connected, the first pin member 106 of the male connector 14 is inserted into the first pin hole 82.

[0039] The first pin hole 82 extends along the axial direction (the direction of the arrow Z). The first pin hole 82 opens to the lower end of the first reinforcing member 78. The first pin hole 82 has a first hole portion 82a. The first hole portion 82a is formed with a constant diameter along the axial direction.

[0040] The second reinforcing member 80 has a second pin hole 84 at its center. When the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are connected, the second pin member 108 of the male connector 14 is inserted into the second pin hole 84.

[0041] The second pin hole 84 extends along the axial direction (the direction of the arrow Z). The second pin hole 84 opens to the lower end of the second reinforcing member 80. The second pin hole 84 has a first hole portion 84a. The first hole portion 84a is formed with a constant diameter along the axial direction.

[0042] A plurality of female terminals 42 are held in the first terminal support portion 46. The plurality of female terminals 42 are arranged in parallel at equal intervals along the first direction (the direction of the arrow X) of the first terminal support portion 46. Below, a case where seven female terminals 42 are provided will be described.

[0043] The female terminal 42 is formed of, for example, a metallic material having electrical conductivity. Of the multiple female terminals 42, the female terminals 42a, 42b arranged on both sides in the first direction of the first terminal support portion 46 are power terminals for transmitting power between the battery pack 18 and the electric vehicle 20 or a charging device. Lead wires (not shown) are electrically connected to the female terminals 42a, 42b.

[0044] Of the multiple female terminals 42, five female terminals 42c other than the female terminals 42a and 42b are signal terminals for transmitting signals. Lead wires (not shown) are electrically connected to each of the female terminals 42c.

[0045] Each female terminal 42 has a pair of terminal members 86. The pair of terminal members 86 are arranged in parallel in a first direction (arrow X direction). When the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are connected, the male terminal 40 of the male connector 14 is inserted between the pair of terminal members 86. The male terminal 40 is clamped in the first direction (arrow X direction) by the pair of terminal members 86. As a result, each female terminal 42 and each male terminal 40 are electrically connected.

[0046] The pair of terminal members 86 are each formed in a plate shape. The pair of terminal members 86 each include a pair of arm portions 88 and a pair of clamping portions 90.

[0047] The base ends of the pair of arm portions 88 abut against each other and are held by the first terminal support portion 46. A portion of the arm portion 88 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 55. In the terminal accommodating chamber 55, the pair of arm portions 88 face each other while being spaced apart in the first direction (the direction of the arrow X). The pair of arm portions 88 extend vertically downward within the terminal accommodating chamber 55.

[0048] The pair of clamping portions 90 extend downward from the pair of arm portions 88. The pair of clamping portions 90 can elastically clamp the male terminal 40 from both sides in a first direction (the direction of the arrow X). The pair of clamping portions 90 are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 55 of the first terminal support portion 46. The pair of clamping portions 90 face each other and are spaced apart from each other in the first direction.

[0049] The pair of clamping portions 90 each have a pair of tip portions 92, a pair of elastic portions 94, and a pair of bent portions 96. The pair of tip portions 92 are disposed at the tips of the pair of terminal members 86. The pair of tip portions 92 are inclined in a direction away from each other in the first direction toward the tip side. The base ends of the pair of elastic portions 94 are disposed at the tips of the pair of arm portions 88. To the department The elastic portions 94 are connected to each other. The elastic portions 94 are inclined in directions approaching each other downwardly away from the arm portion 88. The pair of bent portions 96 are disposed between the elastic portions 94 and the tip portions 92. The pair of bent portions 96 fold the pair of elastic portions 94 and the pair of tip portions 92 back in a direction widening in the first direction.

[0050] When the female terminal 42 and the male terminal 40 are connected, the male terminal 40 is inserted between the pair of bent portions 96. The pair of bent portions 96 elastically hold the male terminal 40 from both sides.

[0051] The male connector 14 has a male terminal support base (second support base) 98 and a male terminal 40.

[0052] The male terminal support base 98 is made of a resin material and has a second terminal support portion 100 that supports a plurality of male terminals 40, a pair of seats 102a, 102b, and first and second pin members 106, 108.

[0053] A pair of third fastening portions 110 are provided on both ends in the first direction of the second terminal support portion 100. The third fastening portions 110 are fixed to the bottom of the battery pack receiving portion 34 in the electric vehicle 20 (see FIG. 3).

[0054] The base 102a is disposed at one end in the first direction of the male terminal support base 98. The base 102b is disposed at the other end in the first direction of the male terminal support base 98.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 9, the male terminal support base 98 further has a support wall portion 104. The support wall portion 104 stands upright relative to the second terminal support portion 100 and extends along the first direction. As shown in Fig. 4, the support wall portion 104 is disposed on the other side of the second direction (the direction of arrow Y2) of the multiple male terminals 40. The support wall portion 104 has a wall main body 112 and a pair of male side abutment portions 114a, 114b.

[0056] The wall body 112 extends along the first direction. The wall body 112 holds the other ends in the second direction of the multiple male terminals 40 (see FIG. 6). The support wall portion 104 is disposed so as to cover the other ends in the second direction (the direction of the arrow Y2) of the multiple male terminals 40.

[0057] The pair of male contact portions 114a, 114b each protrude from both ends in the first direction of the wall main body 112 toward one side in the second direction (the direction of the arrow Y1). The male contact portions 114a, 114b are perpendicular to the wall main body 112. The male contact portions 114a, 114b each have a contact surface 114c parallel to the first direction.

[0058] When the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are connected, the support wall portion 104 is inserted and accommodated in the insertion space 56, the wall main body 112 of the support wall portion 104 faces the first retaining portion 16a, and the support wall portion 104 is urged toward one side of the second direction by the elastic force of the first retaining portion 16a of the retaining structure 16 described later.

[0059] When the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are connected, the contact surfaces 114c of the male contact portions 114a, 114b contact female contact portions 136a, 136b of the second holding portion 16b, which will be described later, in the second direction.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of male terminals 40 are held on the male terminal support base 98. 2 Terminal support part 100 The male terminals 40 are arranged in parallel at equal intervals along the first direction (the direction of the arrow X). Here, a case in which seven male terminals 40 are provided will be described.

[0061] The male terminals 40 are formed, for example, from a conductive metal material. Among the multiple male terminals 40, the male terminals 40a, 40b arranged on both sides in the first direction of the male terminal support base 98 are power terminals for transmitting power between the battery pack 18 and the electric vehicle 20 or between the battery pack 18 and the charging device.

[0062] Of the multiple male terminals 40, five male terminals 40c other than male terminals 40a and 40b are signal terminals for transmitting signals. Lead wires (not shown) are electrically connected to each male terminal 40c.

[0063] Each male terminal 40 is in the form of a plate extending in the vertical direction (arrow Z direction). Each male terminal 40 penetrates male terminal support base 98 and is held by said male terminal support base 98. Each male terminal 40 has a protruding portion 116 protruding from the upper surface of male terminal support base 98. When male connector 14 and female connector 12 are connected, protruding portion 116 of male terminal 40 is inserted into female terminal 42 and clamped by bent portion 96. Protruding portion 116 is the portion connected to female terminal 42. A lead wire (not shown) is electrically connected to the lower end of each male terminal 40.

[0064] The first and second pin members 106, 108 are formed from a metal material. The lower ends of the first and second pin members 106, 108 are fixed to the upper surfaces of the pedestals 102a, 102b, respectively. The first and second pin members 106, 108 protrude upward from the pedestals 102a, 102b. The first and second pin members 106, 108 are arranged parallel to the male terminals 40 of the second terminal support part 100. The first pin member 106 and the second pin member 108 are arranged spaced apart from each other in a first direction (the direction of the arrow X).

[0065] The first and second pin members 106, 108 each have a pin body 118. Each pin body 118 extends along the axial direction (the direction of the arrow Z) with a constant diameter. When viewed from the axial direction of the first and second pin members 106, 108 shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shapes of the first and second pin members 106, 108 are each circular.

[0066] In a connected state between the male connector 14 and the female connector 12, the first pin member 106 is inserted into the first pin hole 82 of the first reinforcing member 78, and the second pin member 108 is inserted into the second pin hole 84 of the second reinforcing member 80. The pin bodies 118 of the first and second pin members 106, 108 are inserted into the first hole portions 82a, 84a of the first and second pin holes 82, 84, respectively.

[0067] The diameter of the pin body 118 of the first and second pin members 106, 108 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the first and second pin holes 82, 84, respectively. Therefore, when the first pin member 106 is inserted into the first pin hole 82, there is a radial clearance C between the outer circumferential surface 106a of the first pin member 106 and the inner circumferential surface 82c of the first pin hole 82. When the second pin member 108 is inserted into the second pin hole 84, there is a radial clearance C between the outer circumferential surface 108a of the second pin member 108 and the inner circumferential surface 84c of the second pin hole 84.

[0068] When the male terminal 40 and the female terminal 42 are connected, downward movement of the female connector 12 toward the male connector 14 is restricted, and the male connector 14 and the female connector 12 are positioned in the first direction (arrow X direction) and the second direction (arrow Y direction).

[0069] As shown in Fig. 4, the retaining structure 16 is disposed between the female terminal support base 44 of the female connector 12 and the male terminal support base 98 of the male connector 14. The retaining structure 16 suppresses relative movement of the male connector 14 in the second direction with respect to the female connector 12. As shown in Fig. 4, the retaining structure 16 has a first retaining portion 16a and a second retaining portion 16b. The first and second retaining portions 16a, 16b are provided on the female terminal support base 44 of the female connector 12, respectively.

[0070] The first holding portion 16a biases the male connector 14 in one second direction (the direction of the arrow Y1).

[0071] The first holding portion 16a has a plurality of spring members 128. The spring members 128 have a resilient force that biases the male connector 14 in the second direction. A plurality of spring members 128 are arranged on the first terminal support portion 46 along the first direction (the direction of the arrow X). 1 Terminal support part 46The spring member 128 is attached to the receiving portion 58 of the male connector 14. The following describes a case where three spring members 128 are provided. The spring member 128 is not limited to being disposed in the female connector 12. Instead of the female connector 12, the spring member 128 may be disposed in the second terminal support portion 100 of the male connector 14, and the spring member 128 may bias the female connector 12 in the second direction.

[0072] 8, the spring member 128 is made of a leaf spring. The spring member 128 is formed by press-molding a thin plate. However, the spring member 128 is not limited to a leaf spring.

[0073] The spring member 128 has a plate portion 130 and a spring portion 132. The plate portion 130 is formed from a thin plate material in a flat and rectangular shape. The plate portion 130 has an insertion direction end portion 134 that becomes the end portion in the insertion direction when the spring member 128 is inserted into the accommodation portion 58 (see FIG. 7). The spring portion 132 is formed by cutting and raising the center portion of the plate portion 130. The spring portion 132 has a cantilever structure connected to the insertion direction end portion 134 of the plate portion 130. The spring portion 132 extends in a direction away from the insertion direction end portion 134 of the plate portion 130. The spring portion 132 protrudes from the plate portion 130 in the plate thickness direction of the plate portion 130.

[0074] 6, the plate portion 130 is inserted into the accommodating portion 58 through the opening 74. As a result, the spring member 128 is held by the first terminal support portion 46 of the female connector 12.

[0075] When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of plate portion 130 shown in FIG. 6 and perpendicular to the extension direction of spring portion 132, the cross-sectional shape of spring portion 132 is an arc convex in the direction away from plate portion 130.

[0076] The spring portion 132 has a resilient force that biases the plate portion 130 in a direction (one second direction, the direction of the arrow Y1) away from the plate portion 130 in the thickness direction of the plate portion 130. When the spring member 128 is attached to the accommodating portion 58, the spring portion 132 protrudes toward the insertion space 56 (the male terminal support base 98) and is disposed in the insertion space 56.

[0077] In a connected state between the female connector 12 and the male connector 14, the top 132a of the spring portion 132 comes into contact with the support wall portion 104 of the male connector 14 inserted into the insertion space 56. The male connector 14 (support wall portion 104) is urged in one second direction (the direction of the arrow Y1) by the resilient force of the spring portion 132 of the spring member 128. When the spring member 128 is provided in the male connector 14, the spring member 128 is disposed on the support wall portion 104, so that the spring portion 132 can urge the outer wall 66 in the second direction. The spring member 128 is disposed on the male side abutment portions 114a, 114b, so that the spring portion 132 can urge the female side abutment portions 136a, 136b in the second direction.

[0078] 4, the second holding portion 16b is a non-elastic structural portion that does not have a resilient force in the second direction. The second holding portion 16b abuts against the male terminal support base 98 when the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are in a connected state. The second holding portion 16b supports the male connector 14 that is biased in one of the second directions (the direction of the arrow Y1) by the first holding portion 16a.

[0079] The second holding portion 16b has a pair of female-side contact portions 136a, 136b. The second holding portion 16b faces the spaces 68a, 68b of the insertion space 56.

[0080] The female side contact portions 136a, 136b are spaced apart from each other in a first direction (arrow X direction) of the female terminal support base 44. The female side contact portion 136a is disposed on one side in the first direction of the female terminal support base 44. The female side contact portion 136b is disposed on the other side in the first direction of the female terminal support base 44.

[0081] The female contact portions 136a and 136b each have a contact surface 138 parallel to the first direction. The contact surface 138 is a flat surface perpendicular to the second direction (the direction of the arrow Y). The contact surface 138 extends outward in the first direction from the terminal accommodating chamber 55.

[0082] Abutment surface 114c of male-side abutment portion 114a of male terminal support base 98 abuts against abutment surface 138 of female-side abutment portion 136a. In a connected state between female connector 12 and male connector 14, abutment surface 114c of male-side abutment portion 114b abuts against abutment surface 138 of female-side abutment portion 136b. That is, a pair of female-side abutment portions 136a, 136b constituting second holding portion 16b abut against a pair of male-side abutment portions 114a, 114b arranged at both ends of support wall portion 104 in the first direction. Instead of arranging the spring member 128 on the outer wall 66 of the first terminal support portion 46, the spring member 128 may be arranged on the female side abutment portions 136a, 136b, and the spring portion 132 of the spring member 128 may urge the male side abutment portions 114a, 114b in the second direction.

[0083] At this time, since the second retaining portion 16b is a non-elastic structural portion, the male terminal support base 98, which is urged in one direction in the second direction (the direction of arrow Y1) by the first retaining portion 16a, is securely held by the second retaining portion 16b, and the relative movement of the male terminal support base 98 in the second direction with respect to the female terminal support base 44 is restricted by the second retaining portion 16b.

[0084] The second holding portion 16b is disposed, for example, further rearward of the electric vehicle 20 (one side in the second direction, the direction of the arrow Y1) than the first holding portion 16a.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 1, in the above-mentioned connector structure 10, when the female terminal 42 of the female connector 12 and the male terminal 40 of the male connector 14 are connected, the female terminal 42 and the male terminal 40 abut against each other, thereby restricting relative movement between the female terminal 42 and the male terminal 40 in a first direction perpendicular to the connection direction between the male connector 14 and the female connector 12.

[0086] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, a case will be described in which the battery pack 18 is accommodated in the battery pack accommodation portion 34 of the electric vehicle 20 and the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are connected to each other.

[0087] A user holds the handle 30 and stores the battery pack 18 in the battery pack storage section 34 of the electric vehicle 20. At this time, the bottom of the battery pack 18 is placed downward.

[0088] 9, in the battery pack storage section 34, the female connector 12 of the battery pack 18 faces the male connector 14 provided in the battery pack storage section 34. The pair of first and second pin members 106, 108 and the pair of first and second pin holes 82, 84 face each other in the vertical direction.

[0089] When the user operates the operating lever of the electric vehicle 20, the male connector 14 rises toward the battery pack 18. As shown in Fig. 1, the first and second pin members 106, 108 of the male connector 14 are inserted into the first and second pin holes 82, 84 of the first and second reinforcing members 78, 80 of the female connector 12. This adjusts the female connector 12 to a predetermined position relative to the male connector 14 in the first and second directions. The male connector 14 and the female connector 12 face each other in the vertical direction (the direction of the arrow Z in Fig. 1).

[0090] At this time, the diameter of the first and second pin members 106, 108 is smaller than the diameter of the first and second pin holes 82, 84 (first hole portions 82a, 84a). Therefore, there is a clearance C in the radial direction between the inner circumferential surfaces 82c, 84c of the first and second pin holes 82, 84 and the outer circumferential surfaces 106a, 108a of the first and second pin members 106, 108, respectively.

[0091] 1, as male connector 14 rises, male terminals 40 are inserted between a pair of bent portions 96 (terminal members 86) in each female terminal 42 of female connector 12. The female terminals 42 and the male terminals 40 are electrically connected. At this time, the upper surfaces of seats 102a, 102b of male connector 14 come into contact with the lower surface of female terminal support base 44 of female connector 12, causing male connector 14 to stop rising.

[0092] When the male connector 14 and the female connector 12 are connected, the first pin member 106 is inserted into the first pin hole 82, and the second pin member 108 is inserted into the second pin hole 84, so that the first and second pin holes 82, 84 are guided to predetermined positions by the first and second pin members 106, 108. As a result, the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are positioned at predetermined positions, so that the multiple female terminals 42 and the multiple male terminals 40 are reliably connected.

[0093] When the multiple female terminals 42 and the multiple male terminals 40 are connected, as the male connector 14 rises, the support wall portion 104 of the male connector 14 is inserted into the insertion space 56 of the female connector 12. As shown in Fig. 4, in the insertion space 56, the end face of the wall main body 112 of the support wall portion 104 comes into contact with the spring portions 132 of the multiple spring members 128. As viewed from the connection direction of the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 shown in Fig. 4, as the support wall portion 104 comes into contact with the spring portions 132, the spring portions 132 are pressed by the support wall portion 104 toward the other second direction and elastically deformed.

[0094] When the support wall portion 104 is inserted into the insertion space 56, the wall main body 112 of the support wall portion 104 is urged in one second direction (the direction of arrow Y1 in FIG. 4) by the spring portions 132 of the multiple spring members 128. In response to the urging by the spring members 128, the male connector 14 moves relative to the female connector 12 in one second direction via the support wall portion 104. In response to the movement of the male connector 14, the male side abutment portions 114a, 114b of the support wall portion 104 abut against the female side abutment portions 136a, 136b of the female terminal support base 44 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0095] In detail, the abutment surface 114c of the male abutment portion 114a is in surface contact with the abutment surface 138 of the female abutment portion 136a and is supported in the second direction, and the abutment surface 114c of the male abutment portion 114b is in surface contact with the abutment surface 138 of the female abutment portion 136b and is supported in the second direction. At this time, the abutment surfaces 114c of the male abutment portions 114a, 114b and the abutment surfaces 138 of the female abutment portions 136a, 136b are in surface contact with each other. Therefore, the male abutment portions 114a, 114b are stably supported by the female abutment portions 136a, 136b.

[0096] This restricts movement of the male connector 14 in one direction in the second direction (the direction of the arrow Y1) relative to the female connector 12. That is, in a connected state between the male terminals 40 of the male connector 14 and the female terminals 42 of the female connector 12, relative movement in the second direction between the male connector 14 including the male terminals 40 and the female connector 12 including the female terminals 42 is restricted.

[0097] As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, in a connected state between the female terminals 42 of the female connector 12 and the male terminals 40 of the male connector 14, the male terminal support base 98 is biased in the second direction relative to the female terminal support base 44, thereby suppressing relative movement in the second direction between the female terminal support base 44 and the male terminal support base 98. This makes it possible to suppress sliding between the female terminals 42 and the male terminals 40 along the second direction, and by suppressing sliding wear between the female terminals 42 and the male terminals 40, durability can be improved.

[0098] The holding structure 16 includes a first holding portion 16a provided on the female terminal support base 44 and biasing the male terminal support base 98 in the second direction, and a second holding portion 16b supporting the male terminal support base 98 biased by the first holding portion 16a. As a result, by supporting the male terminal support base 98 biased in the second direction by the first holding portion 16a in contact with the second holding portion 16b, it is possible to reliably suppress relative movement in the second direction between the female terminal support base 44 and the male terminal support base 98.

[0099] By biasing the male terminal support base 98 of the male connector 14 in the second direction by the elastic force of the spring portion 132 of the spring member 128 constituting the first holding portion 16a, the relative movement in the second direction between the female connector 12 (female terminal support base 44) and the male connector 14 (male terminal support base 98) can be suppressed with a simple configuration. When the female connector 12 and the male connector 14 are connected, the male terminal support base 98 can be inserted into the female terminal support base 44 while the male terminal support base 98 elastically deforms the spring portion 132 in the direction opposite to the biasing direction, so that the insertability of the male terminal support base 98 into the female terminal support base 44 can be improved.

[0100] The multiple spring members 128 stably bias the male terminal support base 98 in the first direction toward the second direction, effectively suppressing relative movement in the second direction between the female terminal support base 44 and the male terminal support base 98, thereby suppressing wear between the female terminals 42 and the male terminals 40.

[0101] The spring member 128 can be easily attached to the female terminal support base 44 by inserting the spring member 128 into the accommodating portion 58 of the female terminal support base 44 from the opening direction of the accommodating portion 58. When the spring member 128 is attached to the accommodating portion 58, the spring portion 132 protrudes toward the male terminal support base 98, so that the male terminal support base 98 can be suitably pressed in the second direction by the spring portion 132.

[0102] By making the second retaining portion 16b a non-elastic structural portion that does not have a resilient force in the second direction, when the male terminal support base 98 is urged in the second direction by the first retaining portion 16a, the male terminal support base 98 is stably and reliably held in the second direction by the second retaining portion 16b, which is a non-elastic structural portion.

[0103] By configuring the second retaining portion 16b from a pair of female side abutment portions 136a, 136b, when the male terminal support base 98 is forced in the second direction by the first retaining portion 16a, the male side abutment portions 114a, 114b of the male terminal support base 98 abut against the pair of female side abutment portions 136a, 136b spaced apart in the first direction, thereby preventing relative rotation between the female connector 12 and the male connector 14.

[0104] By sandwiching the male terminal 40 from the first direction with the terminal members 86 of the female terminal 42, the contact area between the female terminal 42 and the male terminal 40 can be enlarged to ensure stable electrical conduction. Since the male terminal 40 can be formed thin in the first direction, it is possible to reduce the size of the connector structure 10 in the first direction.

[0105] For example, if the second direction in the connector structure 10 is the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle 20, when the electric vehicle 20 housing the battery pack 18 accelerates or decelerates and acceleration in the front-rear direction is applied to the battery pack 18, the holding structure 16 suppresses relative movement between the male connector 14 and the female connector 12 in the second direction (front-rear direction). This effectively suppresses wear of the male terminals 40 and the female terminals 42 caused by acceleration or deceleration of the electric vehicle 20.

[0106] For example, the second retaining portion 16b constituting the retaining structure 16 is disposed rearward of the electric vehicle 20 relative to the first retaining portion 16a. This makes it possible to suppress rearward relative movement of the male connector 14 with respect to the female connector 12 caused by forward acceleration of the electric vehicle 20. Therefore, wear of the female terminal 42 and the male terminal 40 caused by forward acceleration of the electric vehicle 20 can be effectively suppressed.

[0107] By pressing the support wall portion 104 supporting the male terminal 40 in the second direction by the first holding portion 16a, the relative movement of the male terminal 40 with respect to the female terminal 42 can be suppressed more stably.

[0108] In the female terminal support base 44, a pair of female contact portions 136a, 136b are disposed spaced apart in the first direction. This makes it possible for the second holding portion 16b consisting of the female contact portions 136a, 136b to stably and effectively suppress relative movement of the male terminal support base 98 (male terminals 40) in the second direction.

[0109] The above embodiment can be summarized as follows.

[0110] The above embodiment includes a female connector (12) having a female terminal (42) and a female terminal support base (44) that supports the female terminal, a male connector (14) having a male terminal (40) inserted into the female terminal and connected to the female terminal, and a male terminal support base (98) supporting the male terminal, the male connector (14) being connected to the female connector; In a connected state of the female terminal and the male terminal, the female terminal and the male terminal come into contact with each other, thereby restricting relative movement between the female terminal and the male terminal in a first direction perpendicular to a connection direction between the male connector and the female connector, A holding structure (16) is provided between the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base, and urges the female terminal support base or the male terminal support base in a second direction perpendicular to the connection direction and the first direction, thereby restricting relative movement between the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base in the second direction.

[0111] The holding structure includes: a first holding portion (16a) provided on a first support base, which is one of the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base, and biasing a second support base, which is the other of the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base, in the second direction; a second holding portion (16b) provided on the first support base, abutting against the second support base in the connected state, and supporting the second support base biased by the first holding portion; has.

[0112] The first holding portion is a spring member (128) including a spring portion (132) having a resilient force for biasing in the second direction.

[0113] The spring members are arranged in plurality on the first support base along the first direction.

[0114] the first support base has an accommodating portion (58) that opens in the connection direction of the second support base to the first support base and accommodates the spring member, The spring portion of the spring member protrudes from the housing portion toward the second support base.

[0115] The second holding portion is a non-elastic structural portion that does not have a resilient force in the second direction.

[0116] The second holding portions are provided as a pair, and the pair of second holding portions are disposed on the first support table and spaced apart from each other in the first direction.

[0117] The female terminal sandwiches and holds the male terminal from the first direction, so that the female terminal and the male terminal are electrically connected to each other.

[0118] The female connector is provided on a rechargeable battery pack (18), The male connector is provided in a vehicle (20) that receives power from the battery pack, The second direction is a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0119] The second holding portion is disposed rearward of the vehicle relative to the first holding portion.

[0120] the first support is the female terminal support, The second support is the male terminal support.

[0121] the male terminal support base has a support wall portion (104) that supports one end edge of the male terminal in the second direction so as to cover the male terminal from the second direction, The first holding portion presses the support wall portion in the second direction.

[0122] The second holding portion includes two second holding portions arranged spaced apart from each other in the first direction, The two second holding portions abut against both ends of the support wall portion in the first direction.

[0123] The present invention is not limited to the above disclosure, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. A female connector (12) having a female terminal (42) and a female terminal support base (44) for supporting the female terminal; a male connector (14) having a male terminal (40) inserted into the female terminal and connected to the female terminal, and a male terminal support base (98) supporting the male terminal, and connected to the female connector; In a connected state of the female terminal and the male terminal, the female terminal and the male terminal come into contact with each other, thereby restricting relative movement between the female terminal and the male terminal in a first direction perpendicular to a connection direction between the male connector and the female connector, a holding structure (16) provided between the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base, for biasing the female terminal support base or the male terminal support base in a second direction perpendicular to the connection direction and the first direction, thereby restricting relative movement between the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base in the second direction; The holding structure includes: a first holding portion (16a) provided on a first support base, which is one of the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base, and biasing a second support base, which is the other of the female terminal support base and the male terminal support base, in the second direction; a second holding portion (16b) provided on the first support base, abutting against the second support base in the connected state, and supporting the second support base biased by the first holding portion; having The first retaining portion is a spring member (128) including a spring portion (132) having a resilient force that biases the first retaining portion in the second direction.

2. The connector structure according to claim 1, A connector structure, wherein the spring members are arranged in plurality on the first support base along the first direction.

3. The connector structure according to claim 1, the first support base has an accommodating portion (58) that opens in the connection direction of the second support base to the first support base and accommodates the spring member; A connector structure, wherein the spring portion of the spring member protrudes from the accommodating portion toward the second support base.

4. The connector structure according to claim 1, A connector structure, wherein the second holding portion is a non-elastic structural portion that does not have a resilient force in the second direction.

5. The connector structure according to claim 1, A connector structure, wherein a pair of the second holding portions are provided, and the pair of second holding portions are arranged on the first support base and spaced apart from each other in the first direction.

6. The connector structure according to claim 1, A connector structure in which the female terminal sandwiches and holds the male terminal from the first direction, thereby electrically connecting the female terminal and the male terminal to each other.

7. The connector structure according to claim 1, The female connector is provided on a rechargeable battery pack (18), The male connector is provided in a vehicle (20) that receives power from the battery pack, The second direction is a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle.

8. The connector structure according to claim 7, A connector structure, wherein the second holding portion is disposed rearward of the vehicle relative to the first holding portion.

9. The connector structure according to claim 1, the first support base is the female terminal support base, The second support base is the male terminal support base.

10. The connector structure according to claim 9, the male terminal support base has a support wall portion (104) that supports one end edge of the male terminal in the second direction so as to cover the male terminal from the second direction, The first holding portion presses the support wall portion in the second direction.

11. The connector structure according to claim 10, The second holding portion includes two second holding portions arranged spaced apart from each other in the first direction, A connector structure, wherein the two second holding portions abut against both ends of the support wall portion in the first direction.

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