Terminal Block Structure With Resin Heat Path and Fewer Parts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional terminal blocks for in-vehicle devices require a separate heat absorbing sheet, increasing component count and assembly time, and suffer from high heat resistance and size enlargement due to multiple members in the heat transfer path.
Innovation Solution
A terminal block design integrating a terminal with a metal shield shell and filling resin portion, where the resin fills gaps between the terminal and shield shell, enhancing heat dissipation without additional components and reducing size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate heat absorbing sheet is provided between the terminal and shield shell, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but the number of components and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat absorbing sheet with the insulating housing into a single integrated component. The insulating housing is designed to include an heat absorbing portion that directly contacts the terminal, eliminating the need for a separate heat absorbing sheet while maintaining effective heat dissipation from the terminal to the shield shell.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical insulation between the terminal and shield shell, structurally supports the terminal, and acts as a heat absorbing component through its integrated heat absorbing portion. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed in the assembly.
2Temperature
If multiple members are used in the heat transfer path, then heat dissipation is enhanced, but the terminal block size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the heat absorbing sheet and insulating housing into a single integrated component, the patent reduces the number of discrete members in the heat transfer path. This integration maintains the heat dissipation function while reducing the overall volume occupied by multiple separate parts and their associated interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated heat absorbing insulating housing is designed to fit within the shield shell structure, with the heat absorbing portion nested against the terminal. This nested arrangement allows the heat transfer path to be compact, minimizing the external dimensions of the terminal block while maintaining effective heat dissipation through the integrated component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves heat dissipation performance while minimizing component count and size, allowing for smaller terminals and cost-effective miniaturization.
Implementation Method 1
a filling resin portion for integrally fixing the fixing portion of the terminal to the holding tube portion of the shield shell by filling up between facing surfaces of the fixing portion of the terminal and the holding tube portion of the shield shell
Implementation Method 2
a contact portion to be held in thermal contact with an external heat dissipation target
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal block of a novel structure is disclosed which can improve the heat dissipation performance of a terminal while achieving a size reduction with a small number of components. The terminal block is provided with a terminal including a connecting portion to be connected to a mating terminal on a tip side and a fixing portion on a base end side, a shield shell made of metal and including a tubular receptacle for surrounding the connecting portion of the terminal, a holding tube portion for surrounding the fixing portion of the terminal and a contact portion to be held in thermal contact with an external heat dissipation target and a filling resin portion for integrally fixing the fixing portion of the terminal to the holding tube portion of the shield shell by filling up between facing surfaces of the fixing portion and the holding tube portion.