Wire-attached connector

Abstract

To provide a connector with an electric wire, which can be made compact and can identify a temperature of a power terminal.SOLUTION: A connector 10 with an electric wire comprises a power terminal 20P, a power line 30P, a thermistor 42 attached to the power line 30P, a housing 50, and a retainer 60 covering the power terminal 20P and a part of the power line 30P. The connector 10 with an electric wire further comprises a waterproofing member 36 covering a power line connecting unit 22 and the thermistor 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal fitting. The terminal fitting described in Patent Document 1 has a sensor attached to its outer surface for detecting humidity, vibration, and / or temperature. The sensor is mechanically attached to the outer surface of the terminal fitting by a shrink tube. In this way, the sensor is sandwiched and fixed between the outer surface of the terminal fitting and the shrink tube.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a power supply connector mounted on a vehicle. The connector described in Patent Document 2 has a pair of terminals and a temperature sensor attached to each terminal. The temperature sensors are fixed in close contact with the outer surfaces of the power line connection portions of the terminals by, for example, heat shrink tubing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2019-500733 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-125341 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in recent years, there has been a demand for further miniaturization, especially in connectors installed in vehicles. For this reason, connectors have been minimizing the number of parts attached to them as much as possible. However, the temperature of the terminal fittings is closely related to the state of the power supply system. Therefore, there has been a need to know the temperature of the terminal fittings.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wired connector that can be miniaturized and that allows the temperature of the power terminal to be monitored. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The wired connector of the present disclosure is a wired connector that mates with an external connector, and includes: a power terminal having a connection portion to which a terminal of the external connector is connected from one end and a power line connection portion provided on the other end of the connection portion; a power line connected to the power line connection portion of the power terminal; a thermistor attached to the power line and detecting the temperature of the power line; and a housing having an opening through which the external connector is inserted and removed, and a terminal accommodating portion that is positioned inside the opening when viewed from the insertion and removal direction of the external connector and that accommodates the power terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a wired connector that can be miniaturized and that allows the temperature of the power terminal to be monitored. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a connector with electric wires according to a first embodiment and an assembly state thereof. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the wire-attached connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the connector with electric wires. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a terminal-equipped power line in which a power terminal and a power line are integrated. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the process of manufacturing a power line with a terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

[0011] The wired connector of the present disclosure is as follows.

[0012] (1) A wired connector that is mounted on a vehicle and mates with an external charging connector of a power supply device outside the vehicle and is used to charge a battery of the vehicle, the wired connector comprising: a housing having a tubular portion into which a terminal of the external charging connector is inserted from one end side and a power line connection portion provided on the other end side of the tubular portion, the housing having: a power terminal used to supply power to the battery; a power line connected to the power line connection portion of the power terminal; a thermistor attached to the power line and detecting a temperature of the power line; an opening through which the external charging connector is inserted and removed; and a terminal accommodating portion that is positioned inside the opening when viewed from the insertion and removal direction of the external charging connector and accommodates the power terminal; and a retainer that is attached to the inside of the housing along the insertion and removal direction, holds the power terminal together with the housing, and covers the power terminal and a portion of the power line, the wired connector communicating via the terminal accommodating portion from the opening in the housing to a space in the retainer that covers the power line so that a liquid can flow therethrough, the wired connector further comprising: a waterproofing member that covers the power line connection portion and the thermistor. In this way, by providing a thermistor attached to the power line and a waterproofing member that covers the power line connection portion and the thermistor, it is possible to provide a wired connector that can be made smaller and that can grasp the temperature of the power terminal.

[0013] (2) In the wired connector of (1), the thermistor may be positioned so as to overlap the retainer in the insertion / removal direction, an inner end of the water-stopping member in the insertion / removal direction may be located inside the retainer, and the power line may have a bent portion inward of the retainer in the insertion / removal direction. This prevents stress such as bending from being applied to the water-stopping member, thereby suppressing deterioration of the water-stopping member.

[0014] (3) In the wire-attached connector of (1) or (2), the power terminal may have a retaining portion between the tubular portion and the power line connecting portion, and an outer end of the water-stopping member in the insertion / removal direction may be positioned inside the retaining portion in the insertion / removal direction, thereby reliably fixing the power terminal between the housing and the retainer.

[0015] (4) In the wire-connector of any one of (1) to (3), the waterproofing member may be a heat-shrinkable tube, which allows the thermistor to be attached to the power line simply and reliably.

[0016] (5) In the wire-attached connector of (4), the heat-shrinkable tube may be attached so as to cover the thermistor that is temporarily fixed to the power line with a temporary fixing member. This makes it easier to attach the thermistor at a fixed position within the heat-shrinkable tube.

[0017] (6) In the wire-connected connector of any one of (1) to (5), the power terminal may be a part formed by pressing a single metal plate. This makes it possible to easily manufacture the power terminal and reduce costs.

[0018] (7) In the wire-connected connector of any one of (1) to (6), the housing may further have a signal terminal accommodating portion above the terminal accommodating portion for accommodating a signal terminal, and the thermistor may be attached below the power line. This allows the thermistor to be attached to the power line while avoiding interference with components on the signal terminal side.

[0019] (8) The wire-equipped connector of any one of (1) to (7) may further include a ground terminal accommodated in a ground terminal accommodating portion of the housing and having a tubular portion and a wire connection portion, a ground wire connected to the wire connection portion of the ground terminal, and a ground water-stopping member covering the wire connection portion and a part of the ground wire, wherein the ground terminal may be disposed between the pair of power terminals, thereby preventing water from splashing on the connection portion between the wire connection portion and the ground wire between the pair of power terminals.

[0020] (9) In the wire-connected connector of any one of (1) to (8), the retainer has an opening through which the power line is drawn out, a wall surrounding the power line, and a drainage portion provided in a part of the wall, so that water that has entered around the water-stopping member is smoothly drained from the drainage portion formed in a part of the wall.

[0021] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the wired 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] The wire-attached connector according to the first embodiment will be described below.

[0023] <About the vehicle> First, a vehicle in which a wired connector is mounted will be described.

[0024] The vehicle on which the wired connector is mounted is an electric vehicle equipped with a battery and a motor. The vehicle travels by driving the motor with power from the battery. The vehicle may be an electric vehicle equipped only with a motor as a drive source, or may be a hybrid vehicle equipped with a motor and an engine. The battery in the vehicle is charged with power supplied from an external power source. The wired connector is used to charge the vehicle's battery. The wired connector is matable with an external charging connector 200 (see FIG. 4 ). This electrically connects the wired connector to the external charging connector 200. The external charging connector 200 is a connector for a charging cable extending from a power feeding device outside the vehicle. Note that in this specification, the inside refers to the inside of the vehicle in the insertion / removal direction of the external charging connector 200, and the outside refers to the outside of the vehicle in the insertion / removal direction of the external charging connector 200.

[0025] Generally, there are two methods for charging a battery in a vehicle: normal charging and rapid charging. Rapid charging allows for charging in a shorter time than normal charging by passing a larger current than normal charging. Normal charging is expected to use a household power source or an equivalent external power source. Rapid charging is expected to use a dedicated power source, such as a charging station. The following describes a wired connector compatible with normal charging. Unless inconsistent, the following descriptions of wired connectors can also be applied to wired connectors compatible with rapid charging.

[0026] <Wired connectors for vehicles> An assembly mode of a wired connector in a vehicle will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a wired connector 10 according to a first embodiment and its assembly mode.

[0027] The wired connector 10 is attached to a mounting portion 100 provided on the outer surface of the body of a vehicle, for example. Figure 1 shows an example of the mounting portion 100. The mounting portion 100 is formed, for example, in a recessed shape such that a portion of a panel constituting the body is recessed toward the inside of the vehicle. A through hole 104 is formed in a bottom panel 102 of the mounting portion 100.

[0028] A connection portion with the external charging connector 200 is provided on the front side of the wired connector 10. The connection portion includes a portion into which the external charging connector 200 is inserted and electrically connected. A portion of the wired connector 10, including the connection portion, passes through the through-hole 104 and is exposed to the outside of the panel 102. Another portion of the wired connector 10 is disposed further inside the vehicle than the panel 102. The mounting portion 100 may be provided with an openable and closable vehicle body cover or the like. When the vehicle body cover is closed, the vehicle body cover covers the opening of the panel 102. When the vehicle body cover is open, the wired connector 10 is exposed and can be accessed from the outside. When the external charging connector 200 is mated and connected to the wired connector 10, charging of a battery 230 provided in the vehicle is performed.

[0029] In the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 1 , of the X, Y, and Z directions which are orthogonal to one another, the X direction is defined as a direction parallel to the direction in which the wired connector 10 passes through the through-hole 104 of the panel 102. The wired connector 10 and the external charging connector 200 are connected in the X direction. That is, the X direction is the insertion / removal direction of the external charging connector 200. The Y direction is the direction in which a pair of power terminals 20P (see FIGS. 2 to 6 ), which will be described later, are aligned. The Z direction is a direction orthogonal to both the X and Y directions. For example, when the wired connector 10 is provided on a side of a vehicle, the X direction is considered to be the width direction of the vehicle, the Y direction is considered to be the fore-aft direction of the vehicle, and the Z direction is considered to be the vertical direction. Furthermore, when the wired connector 10 is provided on the front or rear surface of the vehicle, the X direction is considered to be the fore-aft direction of the vehicle, the Y direction is considered to be the width direction of the vehicle, and the Z direction is considered to be the vertical direction.

[0030] <Overall structure> The overall configuration of the wire-attached connector 10 will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 6 in addition to Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the wire-attached connector 10 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the wire-attached connector 10. Note that in Figs. 1 and 2, the grommet 80, which is an exterior member, is drawn with imaginary lines. Also, the wire 30 is omitted in Fig. 6.

[0031] The connector with electric wire 10 includes a terminal 20, an electric wire 30, a thermistor unit 40, a housing 50, a retainer 60, a cover 70, and a grommet 80.

[0032] <Terminal> The terminals 20 are accommodated in the housing 50. The terminals 20 are connected to terminals 210 of the external charging connector 200. The number and type of terminals 20 are set appropriately depending on the standards of the wired connector 10, etc. In this embodiment, the terminals 20 include two power terminals 20P, one earth terminal 20E, and two signal terminals 20S. The power terminal 20P is used to supply power to the battery 230. The earth terminal 20E is used for grounding. The signal terminal 20S is used, for example, to control charging. The earth terminal 20E is disposed between the pair of power terminals 20P.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , each terminal 20 has a tubular portion 21, a wire connection portion 22, and a protrusion 24 serving as a retaining portion. The tubular portion 21 is a portion that is electrically connected to a terminal 210 of the external charging connector 200. The terminal 210 of the external charging connector 200 is inserted from one end side of the tubular portion 21. The wire connection portion 22 is provided on the other end side of the tubular portion 21. The electric wire 30 corresponding to each terminal 20 is connected to the wire connection portion 22. Here, the wire connection portion 22 is a crimping portion having crimping pieces 22a. In each terminal 20, the crimping pieces 22a are crimped to the ends of the corresponding electric wires 30. The protrusion 24 is provided in an intermediate portion of each terminal 20. The protrusion 24 is located between the tubular portion 21 and the wire connection portion 22. The protrusion 24 is a portion that is pressed by the retainer 60. Therefore, the protrusion 24 serves as a retaining portion. The protruding portion 24 protrudes from the connecting portion 23 that connects the tubular portion 21 and the wire connecting portion 22 in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the connecting portion 23. The protruding portion 24 has a first protruding piece 24a that protrudes in the Y direction from the connecting portion 23 and a second protruding piece 24b that protrudes in the Z direction from the tip of the first protruding piece 24a (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Each terminal 20 is a component formed by pressing (bending) a flat metal plate.

[0034] 2 and 6, a plurality of types of terminals 20 having different sizes are used as the plurality of terminals 20. In this example, the power terminals 20P are larger in the radial direction and the insertion / removal direction than the signal terminals 20S. The electric wire connection portions 22 of the power terminals 20P are the electric power line connection portions. The earth terminals 20E are the same size as the power terminals 20P.

[0035] <Electric wire> One end of each electric wire 30 is connected to the terminal 20. The other end of each electric wire 30 extends from the grommet 80 to the outside. When the wire-equipped connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle, the other end of each electric wire 30 is connected to another device mounted on the vehicle. Such device is appropriately set depending on the type of the electric wire 30, and is assumed to be, for example, a battery 230 or an electronic control unit (ECU). The number and type of the electric wires 30 correspond to the number and type of the terminals 20. In this embodiment, two power lines 30P, one earth line 30E, and two signal lines 30S are provided as the electric wires 30. One end of the power line 30P is connected to the power terminal 20P. The other end of the power line 30P is connected to, for example, the vehicle battery 230. The vehicle battery 230 and an external power supply device are connected via the power terminal 20P and the power line 30P. One end of the ground wire 30E is connected to the ground terminal 20E. The other end of the ground wire 30E is connected to, for example, the ground of the vehicle. One end of the signal wire 30S is connected to the signal terminal 20S. The other end of the signal wire 30S is connected to, for example, the ECU of the vehicle. For example, the ECU of the vehicle and an external power supply device are communicatively connected via the signal terminal 20S and the signal wire 30S.

[0036] Each electric wire 30 is a coated electric wire. The coated electric wire has a core wire 31 and a coating 32 that covers the core wire 31. The core wire 31 is formed, for example, by twisting together a plurality of metallic wires. The core wire 31 may also be a single-core wire. The coating 32 is formed, for example, by extruding an insulating resin around the core wire 31. A plurality of types of electric wires 30 having different thicknesses are used as the plurality of electric wires 30. In this example, the power wire 30P is thicker than the signal wire 30S. The earth wire 30E has the same thickness as the power wire 30P.

[0037] One end of the electric wire 30 is inserted into the retainer 60. The other end of the electric wire 30 extends from the retainer 60, is bent in the grommet 80, and is directed toward an electric wire outlet 84 of the grommet 80, as shown in FIG. 1 . A plurality of electric wires 30 extend collectively from one electric wire outlet 84 to the outside of the grommet 80.

[0038] <Thermistor unit> The thermistor unit 40 measures the temperature of the power circuit. By using the thermistor unit 40 to monitor the temperature of the power circuit, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the power circuit from becoming too high. The thermistor unit 40 has a thermistor 42 and a thermistor wire 44 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In this example, a thermistor 42 is attached to each of a pair of power lines 30P, and the temperature of each of the pair of power lines 30P is measured.

[0039] Due to the overall need for miniaturization of the housing 50, the power terminal accommodating portion 53P, which will be described later, is preferably formed to a size just large enough to accommodate the power terminals 20P. Therefore, it may be difficult to secure space in the power terminal accommodating portion 53P to accommodate the thermistor 42 and other components in addition to the power terminals 20P. Meanwhile, because a large current flows through the power terminals 20P, temperature management is important. Therefore, the thermistor 42 is not directly attached to the power terminals 20P, but is attached to the power line 30P located close to the power terminals 20P. Since the temperature of the power line 30P located close to the power terminals 20P is thus detected, the heat generation state of the power terminals 20P can be grasped. Note that the "close position" refers to a portion of the power line 30P located within the retainer 60 in the insertion / removal direction, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. In other words, the thermistor 42 is located so as to overlap with the retainer 60 in the insertion / removal direction. Preferably, the thermistor 42 is disposed in a portion of the power line 30P disposed inside the retainer 60 that is forward of the center in the insertion / removal direction.

[0040] Furthermore, if the thermistor 42 is attached to the power terminal 20P, water that flows in through the opening 51A must be drained away, avoiding the thermistor 42. However, if the thermistor 42 is not directly attached to the power terminal 20P, the drainage area for water that flows in through the opening 51A increases by the area of ​​the thermistor 42. Therefore, if the thermistor 42 is not directly attached to the power terminal 20P, it is possible to simultaneously reduce the size of the housing 50 and improve drainage performance.

[0041] One end of the thermistor wire 44 is connected to the thermistor 42. The other end of the thermistor wire 44 extends outward from the grommet 80, similar to the other end of the electric wire 30. When the wired connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle, the other end of the thermistor wire 44 is connected to, for example, an ECU. The thermistor wire 44 is thinner than the power wire 30P.

[0042] The thermistor 42 is disposed at a position overlapping the retainer 60 in the X direction. That is, as shown in Fig. 4, the thermistor 42 is positioned so as to be covered by the retainer 60 in a side view.

[0043] <Housing> Housing 50 holds terminal 20 in a predetermined position (a position where terminal 20 can be connected to terminal 210 of external charging connector 200). Housing 50 includes a housing main body 51 and a vehicle attachment portion 58.

[0044] The terminals 20 are accommodated in the housing main body 51. The housing main body 51 has an outer frame portion 52 and a plurality of terminal accommodating portions 53. Each of the plurality of terminal accommodating portions 53 is formed in a cylindrical shape capable of accommodating a corresponding terminal 20. The outer frame portion 52 is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the plurality of terminal accommodating portions 53. At intermediate portions of the terminal accommodating portions 53, the plurality of terminal accommodating portions 53 and the outer frame portion 52 are connected by flat-plate-shaped connecting portions. An opening 51A through which the external charging connector 200 is inserted and removed is formed in a portion of the outer frame portion 52 that faces more toward the outside of the vehicle than the connecting portion (see FIG. 3 ). The terminal accommodating portion 53 is located inside the opening 51A when viewed along the insertion and removal direction of the external charging connector 200. A lid 70 is attached to the front of the housing main body 51. A retainer 60 is attached to the rear of the housing main body 51.

[0045] The terminal accommodating portion 53 has a power terminal accommodating portion 53P, an earth terminal accommodating portion 53E, and a signal terminal accommodating portion 53S. The signal terminal accommodating portion 53S is disposed above the power terminal accommodating portion 53P and the earth terminal accommodating portion 53E. A power terminal 20P is accommodated in the power terminal accommodating portion 53P. A earth terminal 20E is accommodated in the earth terminal accommodating portion 53E. A signal terminal 20S is accommodated in the signal terminal accommodating portion 53S.

[0046] The vehicle mounting portion 58 is a portion for mounting the wired connector 10 to the mounting portion 100. The vehicle mounting portion 58 is formed in a plate shape that protrudes from the periphery of the outer frame portion 52 in the middle portion of the housing main body 51. The vehicle mounting portion 58 is mounted to the mounting portion 100 with, for example, screws.

[0047] <Retainer> The retainer 60 is attached to the inside of the housing 50 (opposite the opening 51A) along the X direction. The retainer 60 prevents the terminals 20 from coming out of the housing 50. The retainer 60 holds the terminals 20 together with the housing 50. The retainer 60 covers the terminals 20 and a portion of the wires 30. The retainer 60 has a terminal pressing portion 61.

[0048] The terminal pressing portion 61 presses the rear of the terminal 20 accommodated in the housing 50. As shown in Fig. 3, the terminal pressing portion 61E presses the rear of the ground terminal 20E, and as shown in Fig. 4, the terminal pressing portion 61P presses the rear of the power terminal 20P. This prevents the terminal 20 from coming out rearward from the housing 50. The terminal pressing portion 61 includes a rear cover portion 62 and a plurality of protruding tubular portions 63.

[0049] 4, the rear cover portion 62 closes the rear opening of the outer frame portion 52. A plurality of through holes are formed in the rear cover portion 62. The plurality of through holes are formed at positions corresponding to the respective terminal accommodating portions 53. Each electric wire 30 passes through each through hole.

[0050] The multiple protruding tubular portions 63 protrude forward (toward the housing 50) from the rear cover portion 62. The multiple protruding tubular portions 63 are formed at positions corresponding to the respective terminal accommodating portions 53. Each protruding tubular portion 63 communicates with a respective through-hole. The tip of each protruding tubular portion 63 is inserted into the corresponding terminal accommodating portion 53 to press the corresponding protruding portion 24 from behind. In addition, the peripheral surface of each protruding tubular portion 63 forms a wall that surrounds each electric wire 30.

[0051] The protruding tubular portion 63 corresponding to the power terminal 20P and the protruding tubular portion 63 corresponding to the ground terminal 20E protrude rearward in the X direction from the rear cover portion 62. The positions of the tip of the power line 30P and the tip of the ground line 30E are restricted via these protruding tubular portions 63. The power line 30P is drawn out from an opening 64a at the rear of the protruding tubular portion 63 corresponding to the power terminal 20P.

[0052] A drainage portion 65 is provided on the wall of the protruding tubular portion 63 corresponding to the power terminal. The drainage portion 65 opens in a direction intersecting the opening. In this example, the drainage portion 65 is formed so as to open laterally at a position lower than the center of the power terminal 20P. The diameter of the drainage portion 65 is the same as or larger than the diameter of the power line 30P.

[0053] The drainage portions 65 are provided for the two power terminals 20P, respectively. The two drainage portions 65 are formed in directions away from each other and in a direction along the arrangement of the pair of power terminals 20P.

[0054] <Lid> Lid 70 is attached to housing 50 so as to be able to open and close. When lid 70 is open, opening 51A is exposed. This allows external charging connector 200 to be inserted into opening 51A. When lid 70 is closed, opening 51A is closed.

[0055] <Grommet> The grommet 80 collectively covers the retainer 60 and the terminals 20 from the side of the housing 50 opposite the opening 51A. The grommet 80 covers the rear end of the housing main body 51 and the retainer 60. The grommet 80 is an elastic member. The grommet 80 is made of an elastomer such as EPDM. The grommet 80 is a molded product formed, for example, using a mold. The grommet 80 is an example of a grommet 80 that serves as an exterior member that collectively covers the retainer 60 and the terminals 20. The exterior member does not need to be an elastic member and may be made of a hard resin, metal, or the like. In other words, the exterior member may be a protector or a grommet.

[0056] The grommet 80 is formed with a housing outlet 81, a drain outlet 83, and an electric wire outlet 84. The housing outlet 81 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the X direction. The housing outlet 81 covers the rear end of the housing 50. The front end of the housing main body 51 extends to the outside of the grommet 80 through the housing outlet 81. The drain outlet 83 is an opening for draining water that has entered the inside of the wired connector 10 to the outside. It is expected that such water may enter from the front end of the housing main body 51 when the lid 70 is open, for example. The drain outlet 83 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the Z direction. The other end of the electric wire 30 extends to the outside of the grommet 80 through the electric wire outlet 84. In this example, there is one electric wire outlet 84, through which the power line 30P, the signal line 30S, the ground wire 30E, and the thermistor electric wire 44 are all passed. A plurality of electric wire outlets 84 may be provided, and a plurality of electric wires 30 may be passed through the plurality of electric wire outlets 84 separately.

[0057] Here, the insertion / removal direction, the direction in which the electric wire outlet 84 opens, and the direction in which the drain outlet 83 opens are directions that intersect with one another. Here, the insertion / removal direction is the X direction. The direction in which the electric wire outlet 84 opens is the Y direction. The direction in which the drain outlet 83 opens is the Z direction. The insertion / removal direction, the direction in which the electric wire outlet 84 opens, and the direction in which the drain outlet 83 opens are perpendicular to one another, but may intersect at an angle other than perpendicular.

[0058] <Wire with terminal> The terminals 20 and the electric wires 30 are electrically connected to each other and fixed together by crimping or the like during the manufacturing process of the wire-attached connector 10, and are integrated. Such an integrated electric wire 30 and terminal 20 is sometimes called an electric wire with terminal. In this example, an electric wire with terminal (power wire with terminal) in which a power line 30P and a power terminal 20P are integrated, an electric wire with terminal (power wire with terminal) in which a signal line 30S and a signal terminal 20S are integrated, and an electric wire with terminal (power wire with terminal) in which a ground line 30E and a ground terminal 20E are integrated are provided.

[0059] An example of an electric wire with a terminal will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a terminal-equipped power wire 34P in which a power terminal 20P and a power wire 30P are integrated. Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the process of manufacturing the terminal-equipped power wire 34P.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 7 , a terminal-equipped power line 34P may be provided with a water-stopping member 36. The water-stopping member 36 covers the connection between the power terminal 20P and the power line 30P. For example, the water-stopping member 36 covers the power terminal 20P from a portion forward of the connection to the power line 30P to a portion of the power line 30P where the coating 32 is located. More specifically, the water-stopping member 36 covers the core wire 31 at the end of the power line 30P from above a thermistor 42 attached to the power line 30P. This prevents water from getting on the core wire 31 and the thermistor 42, which are the connection between the power line 30P and the power terminal 20P. Furthermore, since water is not getting on the core wire 31, water penetration into the coating 32 is suppressed. Here, the water-stopping member 36 is a shrinkable tube. The water-stopping member 36 may be an elastic rubber tube or a resin such as an adhesive.

[0061] The shrink tube 36 serving as the water-stopping member 36 is, for example, a heat-shrinkable tube that shrinks when heated. The shrink tube 36 is placed over the terminal-attached power line 34P in a large-diameter state before being heated. When the shrink tube 36 is heated and shrunk, it conforms to the shape of the connection portion, thereby allowing it to fit tightly to the connection portion. For example, before being heated, the tip of the shrink tube 36 may fit into a recess formed in the first protruding piece 24a of the protrusion 24 and be positioned by being abutted against the first protruding piece 24a. After shrinking, the tip of the shrink tube 36 may remain fitted into the recess formed in the first protruding piece 24a of the protrusion 24. After shrinking, the tip of the shrink tube 36 may slip rearward beyond the recess. Using a heat-shrinkable tube 36 as the water-stopping member 36 is expected to reduce the number of parts compared to using other water-stopping structures. Furthermore, using a heat-shrinkable tube 36 as the water-stopping member 36 also facilitates attachment of the thermistor 42 to the power line 30P.

[0062] For example, a hot melt adhesive may be applied to the inner surface of the shrink tube 36. This allows the hot melt adhesive to fill the gap between the shrink tube 36 and the terminal 20 and the gap between the shrink tube 36 and the power line 30P, thereby improving the waterproofing properties of the shrink tube 36. The hot melt adhesive does not have to be applied to the inner surface of the shrink tube 36. In the terminal-equipped power line 34P, the shrink tube 36 may not be applied to the connection portion between the power line 30P and the power terminal 20P, and the connection portion may be exposed.

[0063] The thermistor 42 is located on the outer periphery of the coating 32 at a position away (for example, slightly away) from the connection between the power line 30P and the power terminal 20P. The thermistor 42 is also located inside the shrink tube 36 together with the power line 30P. One end of the thermistor wire 44, which is connected to the thermistor 42, is located inside the shrink tube 36. The other end of the thermistor wire 44 extends out from the end of the shrink tube 36. The other end of the thermistor wire 44 extends out of the grommet 80 together with the power line 30P, the earth wire 30E, and the signal wire 30S. The wire connection portion 22 of the power terminal 20P and the thermistor 42 are located on a drainage path A3, which will be described later.

[0064] The thermistor 42 may be positioned on the coating 32 using a temporary fixing member such as adhesive tape 46 before the shrink tube 36 is attached. This increases the accuracy of the positional relationship of the thermistor 42 with respect to the terminal-equipped power line 34P. In this case, the temporary fixing member such as adhesive tape 46 is also located inside the shrink tube 36. In other words, the shrink tube 36 is attached so as to cover the thermistor 42 that has been temporarily fixed to the coating 32 with a temporary fixing member such as adhesive tape 46. For example, with the thermistor 42 positioned so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the power line 30P, adhesive tape 56 is wrapped around the power line 30P and the thermistor 42. The adhesive tape 56 need only be wrapped enough to hold the thermistor 42 in a fixed position relative to the power line 30P; it is not necessary for the adhesive tape 56 to cover the entire periphery of the thermistor 42. It is preferable for the shrink tube 36 to cover the entire adhesive tape 56.

[0065] The shrinkable tube 36 may also be provided on the terminal-attached electric wire 34E in which the ground terminal 20E and the ground wire 30E are integrated, and on the terminal-attached electric wire 34S in which the signal terminal 20S and the signal wire 30S are integrated. In this case, the shrinkable tube 36 covers the wire connection portion 22 of the ground terminal 20E and a portion of the ground wire 30E (the core wire 31E portion). The shrinkable tube 36 also covers the wire connection portion 22 of the signal terminal 20S and a portion of the signal wire 30S (the core wire 31S portion). This prevents water from getting on the connection portion between the wire connection portion 22 and the ground wire 30E or the signal wire 30S. In FIGS. 3 and 5, the heat-shrinkable tube covering the wire connection portion 22 of the ground terminal 20E and a portion of the ground wire 30E (the core wire 31E portion and the end of the coating) is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and this heat-shrinkable tube is the grounding water-stopping member 38.

[0066] 5, the power line 30P has a bent portion 33 in the X direction, which is closer to the inside (of the vehicle) than the retainer 60. This prevents the water-stopping member 36 from being subjected to stress such as bending, which is expected to prevent deterioration of the water-stopping member 36. From another perspective, as shown in FIG. 7, the inner end 36I in the X direction of the shrinkable tube 36 is located inside the retainer 60. This prevents the bent portion 33 of the power line 30P from being covered by the water-stopping member 36, which prevents the water-stopping member 36 from being subjected to stress such as bending.

[0067] <Drainage route> In the wired connector 10, a liquid such as water (hereinafter referred to as water) is allowed to flow from the opening 51A in the housing 50 to the internal space of the grommet 80. Water that seeps in through the opening 51A flows toward the outside of the grommet 80 along a drainage path in the wired connector 10. The drainage path in the wired connector 10 will be described in more detail. Arrows A1, A2, A3, and A4 in Figures 3 to 5 indicate some of the drainage paths in the wired connector 10.

[0068] 3 is a drainage path through drainage hole 51h formed below opening 51A of housing 50. Drainage path A1 is a drainage path that does not pass through terminal accommodating portion 53. Water that has entered through drainage hole 51h of housing 50 passes through the lower passage of terminal accommodating portion 53 and drainage hole 62h of retainer 60, and is discharged from drainage opening 83 of grommet 80.

[0069] 3 and 5 is a drainage path A2 that passes through the ground terminal housing 53E. In the drainage path A2, water flows downward from the opening of the retainer 60 connected to the rear of the ground terminal housing 53E. Then, the water is discharged from the drainage opening 83 of the grommet 80.

[0070] 4 and 5 is a drainage path that passes through the power terminal accommodating portion 53P. In the drainage path A3, like the drainage path A2, water flows downward from the opening of the retainer 60 connected to the rear of the power terminal accommodating portion 53P. Then, the water passes through the inner surface of the cylindrical portion of the grommet 80 and is discharged from the drainage port 83 of the grommet 80.

[0071] 5 is a drainage path A4 that passes through the power terminal accommodating portion 53P and is separate from the drainage path A3. In the drainage path A4, water flows laterally from the drainage portion 65 of the power terminal pressing portion 61P and is discharged from the drainage opening 83 of the grommet 80.

[0072] In the drainage path via the power terminal accommodating portion 53P, water can flow along any path between the drainage path A3 and the drainage path A4. In the wired connector 10, water is allowed to flow through the terminal accommodating portion 53 from the opening 51A in the housing 50 to the space in the retainer 60 that covers the power line 30P. Water that seeps in through the opening 51A flows toward the outside of the grommet 80 along the drainage path A3, the drainage path A4, or any drainage path therebetween.

[0073] Although not shown, the drainage path via the signal terminal housing portion 53S is basically the same as the drainage paths A2 and A3. That is, water flows downward from the rear opening of the signal terminal pressing portion 61S. Then, water passes through the inner surface of the cylindrical portion of the grommet 80 and is discharged from the drainage port 83 of the grommet 80.

[0074] <Effects, etc.> The wired connector 10 configured as described above includes the thermistor 42 attached to the power line 30P and the waterproofing member 36 that covers the wire connection portion 22 and the thermistor 42, making it possible to provide a wired connector 10 that can be miniaturized and that can monitor the temperature of the power terminals 20P. In other words, since there is no need to secure space in the power terminal accommodating portion 53P to accommodate the thermistor 42, the wired connector 10 can be miniaturized, particularly when viewed from the front. Furthermore, there is no need to waterproof the gap between the housing 50 and the power terminals 20P with a rubber stopper or the like, which increases design flexibility.

[0075] The thermistor 42 is disposed at a position overlapping the retainer 60 in the X direction, and an inner end 36I in the X direction of the water-stopping member 36 is located inside the retainer 60. The power line 30P may also have a bent portion 33 in the X direction, which is more inward than the retainer 60. This prevents stress such as bending from being applied to the water-stopping member 36, thereby suppressing deterioration of the water-stopping member 36.

[0076] The power terminal 20P has a protrusion 24 as a retaining portion between the cylindrical portion 21 and the electric wire connecting portion 22. This allows the power terminal 20P to be reliably fixed between the housing 50 and the retainer 60.

[0077] The waterproofing member 36 may be a heat-shrinkable tube, which allows the thermistor 42 to be attached to the power line 30P simply and reliably.

[0078] The heat-shrinkable tube serving as the waterproofing member 36 may be attached so as to cover the thermistor 42 that is temporarily fixed to the power line 30P with a temporary fixing member such as adhesive tape 46. This makes it easier to attach the thermistor 42 at a fixed position within the heat-shrinkable tube.

[0079] The power terminal 20P may be a pressed part made of a single metal plate. This simplifies the manufacturing process of the power terminal 20P compared to machined or die-cast parts, thereby reducing costs. When the power terminal 20P is a pressed part, covering the wire connection portion 22 and thermistor 42 with the waterproofing member 36 is particularly effective for the following reason. Specifically, when the power terminal 20P is a pressed part, it is considered difficult to achieve a waterproof structure between the inside and outside of the housing 50 using a rubber ring or the like. Therefore, by covering the wire connection portion 22 and thermistor 42 with the waterproofing member 36, even if water reaches the inside of the housing 50, it is possible for the water to pass through the outside of the waterproofing member 36. This allows waterproofing measures to be implemented for the wire connection portion 22 and thermistor 42 even when the power terminal 20P is a pressed part. The power terminal 20P does not necessarily have to be a pressed part; for example, it may be formed by cutting a metal bar.

[0080] The housing 50 further has a signal terminal accommodating portion 53S that accommodates the signal terminal 20S above the terminal accommodating portion 53. The thermistor 42 may also be attached below the power line 30P. This ensures space for arranging the thermistor 42 attached to the power line 30P while avoiding interference with the signal line 30S extending from the signal terminal 20S.

[0081] The device further includes a ground terminal 20E accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 53 of the housing 50 and having a tubular portion 21 and an electric wire connecting portion 22, and a ground waterproof member 38 covering the electric wire connecting portion 22 and a portion of the ground wire 30E. The ground terminal 20E may be disposed between the pair of power terminals 20P. This prevents water from splashing on the connection portion between the electric wire connecting portion 22 and the ground wire 30E.

[0082] In the retainer 60, the drainage portion 65 is provided in a part of the wall surrounding the power line 30P, so that water that has entered the terminal accommodating portion 53 can be more easily drained.

[0083] The configurations described in the above embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate as long as they are not mutually contradictory. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 10 Wire-attached connector 20 terminals 20E Earth terminal 20P power terminal 20S signal terminal 21 Cylinder part 22 Wire connection 22a Crimping piece 23 Connecting part 24 Protrusion 24a 1st protruding piece 24b 2nd protruding piece 30 Electric wire 30E Ground wire 30O electric wire 30P power line 30S signal line 31 Core Wire 32 Covering 33 Bending section 34E Wire with terminal 34P terminal attached power line 34S Wire with terminal 36 Shrinkable tube, waterproof material 36I Inner edge 38 Earthing waterproofing material 40 Thermistor Unit 42 Thermistor 44 Thermistor wire 46 adhesive tape 50 Housing 51 Housing body 51A opening 51h Drain hole 52 outer frame 53 Terminal housing 53E Earth terminal housing 53P power terminal housing 53S Signal terminal housing 56 Adhesive Tape 58 Vehicle mounting part 60 Retainer 61 Terminal holder 61P Power terminal holder 61S Signal terminal holder 62 Rear cover part 62h Drain hole 63 Projecting cylinder part 64a aperture 65 Drainage section 70 Lid 80 Grommets 81 Housing outlet 83 Drain 84 Wire outlet 100 Mounting part 102 Panel 104 Through hole 200 External charging connector 210 terminal 230 Battery A1, A2, A3, A4 drainage route

Claims

1. A wired connector that mates with an external connector, a power terminal having a connection portion to which a terminal of the external connector is connected from one end side and a power line connection portion provided on the other end side of the connection portion; a power line connected to the power line connection portion of the power terminal; a thermistor attached to the power line for detecting a temperature of the power line; a housing having an opening for inserting and removing the external connector, and a terminal accommodating portion that is disposed inside the opening when viewed from the inserting and removing direction of the external connector and that accommodates the power terminal; A wire-attached connector comprising:

2. The wired connector according to claim 1, The connecting portion is a cylindrical portion into which a terminal of the external connector is inserted.

3. The connector with electric wire according to claim 1 or 2, The wire-attached connector further includes a waterproofing member that covers the power line connection portion and the thermistor.

4. The connector with electric wire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The wired connector further includes a retainer attached to the inside of the housing along the insertion / removal direction, holding the power terminal together with the housing, and covering the power terminal and a portion of the power line.

5. The connector with electric wire according to claim 4, The wire-attached connector has fluid communication from the opening in the housing to the space in the retainer that covers the power lines via the terminal accommodating portion.

6. The connector with electric wire according to claim 3, a retainer attached to the inside of the housing along the insertion / removal direction, holding the power terminal together with the housing, and covering the power terminal and a portion of the power line; the thermistor is disposed at a position overlapping the retainer in the insertion / removal direction, an inner end portion of the water-stopping member in the insertion / removal direction is located inside the retainer, The power line has a bent portion inward from the retainer in the insertion / removal direction.

7. The connector with electric wire according to claim 3, the power terminal has a retaining portion between the connection portion and the power line connection portion, An outer end of the water-stopping member in the insertion / removal direction is positioned more inward than the retaining portion in the insertion / removal direction.

8. The connector with electric wire according to claim 3 or claim 7, The connector with electric wire, wherein the waterproofing member is a heat-shrinkable tube.

9. The wired connector according to claim 8, The heat shrinkable tube is attached to the wire-attached connector so as to cover the thermistor that is temporarily fixed to the power line by a temporary fixing member.

10. The connector with electric wire according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The housing further includes a signal terminal accommodating portion above the terminal accommodating portion for accommodating a signal terminal, The thermistor is mounted below the power line.

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