Conductor

Abstract

The invention provides a conductor capable of improving the degree of freedom of design of the shape of a bus bar and improving the versatility of an exterior member. A conductor (1) is provided with a pair of bus bars (2, 3) and an exterior member (4) attached to the pair of bus bars (2, 3). Each of the pair of bus bars (2, 3) has a section (13) to be mounted, and the section (13) to be mounted has a conductor section (11) extending linearly and an insulating coating layer (12) covering the conductor section (11). The exterior member (4) is provided with: a pair of grooves (21, 31) that extend linearly so as to be able to accommodate the respective mounted sections (13) of the pair of bus bars (2, 3); and a pair of lid sections (23, 33, 36) capable of opening and closing the respective openings of the pair of groove sections (21, 31). The pair of lid sections (23, 33, 36) are disposed such that one (23) and the other (36) of the pair of lid sections overlap when the openings of both the pair of groove sections (21, 31) are closed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conductor including a pair of bus bars and an exterior member mounted on the pair of bus bars. Background Art

[0002] Currently, when laying metal bus bars in an automobile or the like, an insulating exterior member is assembled so as to cover the bus bars, and the exterior member is fixed to the body of the automobile or the like as needed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-190532

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Bus bars of the above type usually have a shape extending along a prescribed laying path (so-called layout) corresponding to the specifications of an automobile or the like. Similarly, the exterior member usually has a shape corresponding to the laying path so as to be able to accommodate such bus bars. In other words, the exterior member has a different dedicated shape for each specification of the bus bar. Therefore, of course, if the shape of the bus bar is different, the shape of the exterior member is also different. Conversely, if the exterior member is to be made universal, the design freedom of the shape of the bus bar is reduced. For this reason, it is usually difficult to balance an increase in the design freedom of the shape of the bus bar and an increase in the universality of the exterior member. Summary of the Invention

[0008] One object of the present invention is to provide a conductor capable of balancing an increase in the design freedom of the shape of a bus bar and an increase in the universality of an exterior member.

[0009] Technical Solution for Solving the Problem

[0010] To achieve the above object, the conductor of the present invention is characterized as follows.

[0011] A conductor including a pair of bus bars and an exterior member mounted on the pair of bus bars, wherein,

[0012] each of the pair of bus bars has a conductor portion and an insulating coating covering the conductor portion, and at least a part thereof has a mounted portion extending linearly,

[0013] the exterior member has:

[0014] A pair of groove portions extending linearly in a manner capable of accommodating the mounted portions of the pair of bus bars respectively; a pair of cover portions capable of opening and closing the opening portions of the pair of groove portions respectively,

[0015] The pair of cover portions are configured such that when the opening portions of both of the pair of groove portions are closed, one of the pair of cover portions and the other overlap each other.

[0016] Advantages of the Invention

[0017] In the conductor according to the present invention, the pair of bus bars are each composed of a conductor portion covered with an insulating coating layer, and at least a part thereof has a mounted portion extending linearly. The mounted portion is for mounting the bus bar and the exterior member. Specifically, the mounted portions of the pair of bus bars are respectively accommodated in a pair of groove portions of the exterior member. Thus, since the conductor portions of the bus bars are covered with the insulating coating layer, it is not necessary to provide an exterior member so as to cover the entire bus bar. Furthermore, the exterior member only needs to have a groove portion capable of accommodating the linearly extending mounted portion and a cover portion for opening and closing the groove portion, and does not need to have a dedicated shape for each bus bar. Therefore, the versatility of the exterior member can be improved. On the other hand, in the bus bar, the shape of the portion other than the mounted portion can be designed without considering the existence of the exterior member. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar can be improved. Thus, the conductor of this structure can achieve both an improvement in the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar and an improvement in the versatility of the exterior member.

[0018] Furthermore, the conductor of the present invention also has other advantages. Specifically, the pair of cover portions are configured such that when the opening portions of both of the pair of groove portions are closed, one of the pair of cover portions and the other overlap each other. Therefore, when the pair of cover portions are opened, after the upper cover portion is opened, the lower cover portion is then opened. That is, the order of opening the pair of cover portions is restricted. Thereby, when the bus bar is removed from the exterior member, accidental short - circuit between the bus bars can be prevented by preventing one bus bar from contacting the other bus bar. Moreover, miniaturization of the exterior member or improvement in the workability of the operation of mounting the exterior member to the bus bar can be achieved.

[0019] As described above, the present invention has been briefly described. Moreover, the details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the assembled state of the conductor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 is showing Figure 1 a perspective view of the state in which the second bus bar is separated from the exterior member in the shown conductor.

[0022] Figure 3 It represents Figure 1 a perspective view showing a state in which both the first bus bar and the second bus bar in the shown conductor are separated from the exterior member.

[0023] Figure 4 It is Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line A - A of

[0024] Figure 5 It is Figure 2 a sectional view taken along line B - B of

[0025] Figure 6 It is Figure 3 a sectional view taken along line C - C of

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals

[0027] 1 Conductor

[0028] 2 First bus bar (bus bar)

[0029] 3 Second bus bar (bus bar)

[0030] 4 Exterior member

[0031] 11 Conductor part

[0032] 12 Insulating coating

[0033] 13 Mounted part

[0034] 20 First block

[0035] 21 First groove part (groove part)

[0036] 23 First cover part (cover part)

[0037] 25 Engaged part

[0038] 30 Second block

[0039] 31 Second groove part (groove part)

[0040] 33 Second cover part (cover part)

[0041] 35 Engaged part

[0042] 36 Extended cover part (cover part) Detailed implementation mode

[0043] <Embodiment>

[0044] Next, the conductor 1 of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As Figures 1 to 3As shown, the conductor 1 includes a first bus bar 2, a second bus bar 3, and an exterior member 4 mounted on a part of the extending directions of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3, namely, the mounted part 13. In addition, in Figures 1 to 3 only the mounted part 13 of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 is shown respectively. Typically, the conductor 1 is used on a vehicle or the like with the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 disposed on a vehicle or the like, and the exterior member 4 mounted on the mounted part 13 of each of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 fixed to the body of the vehicle or the like.

[0045] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as Figure 1 shown, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down” are defined. The “front-rear direction”, “left-right direction” and “up-down direction” are orthogonal to each other. The front-rear direction is consistent with the extending directions of the mounted parts 13 of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 and the extending direction of the exterior member 4. In addition, these directions are determined only for convenience of explanation. For example, there is no need to correspond to the front-rear direction, left-right direction and up-down direction of the vehicle or the like when the conductor 1 is mounted on the vehicle or the like. Hereinafter, the structures of the respective parts constituting the conductor 1 will be described in sequence.

[0046] First, the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 will be described. The first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 each have a shape extending along a laying path corresponding to the specifications of a vehicle or the like (for example, a shape extending while being three-dimensionally bent), and are composed of a conductor part 11 having such a shape extension and an insulating coating layer 12 covering the outer periphery of the conductor part 11 (see Figure 2 and Figure 3 ). In this example, a part of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3, namely, the part shown in Figures 1 to 6 (conductor part 11) is a metal plate having a rectangular cross-section and extending in a long and narrow shape, and the insulating coating layer 12 covers the outer periphery of the conductor part 11 over the entire extending direction of the conductor part 11. In addition, the shape of the part not shown in the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 may be determined based on the specifications of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3, etc., and may not have a linear shape.

[0047] As Figures 1 to 3As shown, the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 each have a portion (i.e., the conductor portion 11 covered by the insulating coating 12 and extending linearly) that extends linearly in the front-rear direction as a portion in a part of the extending direction, which is the mounted portion 13. In this example, since the entire extending direction of the conductor portion 11 itself is covered by the insulating coating 12, there is no need to provide an exterior member 4 in such a way as to cover the entire extending direction of each of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3. Therefore, in this example, the exterior member 4 is mounted on the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 in such a way as to cover only a part of the extending direction of each of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3, that is, the mounted portion 13 (a part or all of the extending direction thereof). Thus, the exterior member 4 only needs to be able to accommodate only the linear mounted portions 13 of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 (a part or all of the extending direction thereof), and there is no need to have a dedicated shape for each bus bar, so the versatility is high. On the other hand, in the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3, the shape of the portion other than the mounted portion 13 can be designed without considering the existence of the exterior member 4. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 is high.

[0048] Next, the exterior member 4 will be described. The exterior member 4 is a resin molded body and generally has a first block 20 extending in the front-rear direction and a second block 30 extending in the front-rear direction as shown in Figures 2 to 6 . The first block 20 and the second block 30 are separate from each other. On the other hand, they are configured to be connected to each other by an extending cover portion 36 described later in a state where the second block 30 is adjacent to the left side of the first block 20 and arranged in the left-right direction (refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4 ). In this example, the length of the second block 30 in the front-rear direction is substantially equal to the length of the first block 20 in the front-rear direction. In the connected state of the first block 20 and the second block 30, the entire front-rear direction of the first block 20 and the entire front-rear direction of the second block 30 are arranged in the left-right direction (refer to Figure 1 ).

[0049] The first block 20 has a substantially U-shaped shape opening upward when viewed from the front-rear direction and extends linearly in the front-rear direction, defining a first groove portion 21 that opens upward and extends linearly in the front-rear direction (refer to Figure 2 and Figure 6etc.). The mounted portion 13 of the first bus bar 2 is received in the first groove portion 21. At the upper end portion of the left side wall of the first block 20, an opening portion of the first groove portion 21 is connected in an openable and closable manner via a plurality (four) of hinge portions 22 arranged in the front-rear direction to a first lid portion 23. The first lid portion 23 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape extending in the front-rear direction corresponding to the shape of the opening portion of the first groove portion 21. At both front and rear ends of an end edge portion extending in the front-rear direction on the side of the first lid portion 23 opposite to the plurality of hinge portions 22, a pair of front and rear engaging portions 24 are provided. In a state where the first lid portion 23 is closed (i.e., a state where the opening portion of the first groove portion 21 is closed), the pair of front and rear engaging portions 24 are engaged with a pair of front and rear engaged portions 25 provided at the upper end portion of the right side wall of the first block 20 (refer to Figure 2 and Figure 5 ). In this example, the engaging portion 24 is a locking piece having a locking projection, and the engaged portion 25 is a locking hole into which a locking piece is inserted to lock the locking projection. At the center portion in the front-rear direction on the outer surface of the right side wall of the first block 20, a fixing portion 41 for fixing to a vehicle body or the like of an automobile or the like is provided.

[0050] When viewed from the front-rear direction, the second block 30 has a substantially U-shaped shape opening upward and extends linearly in the front-rear direction, defining a second groove portion 31 opening upward and extending linearly in the front-rear direction (refer to Figure 2 and Figure 6 etc.). The mounted portion 13 of the second bus bar 3 is received in the second groove portion 31. At the upper end portion of the left side wall of the second block 30, an opening portion of the second groove portion 31 is connected in an openable and closable manner via a plurality (four) of hinge portions 32 arranged in the front-rear direction to a second lid portion 33. The second lid portion 33 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape extending in the front-rear direction corresponding to the shape of the opening portion of the second groove portion 31. At the end edge portion extending in the front-rear direction on the side of the second lid portion 33 opposite to the plurality of hinge portions 32, a plurality (three) of engaging portions 34 are provided arranged in the front-rear direction. In a state where the second lid portion 33 is closed (i.e., a state where the opening portion of the second groove portion 31 is closed), the plurality of engaging portions 34 are engaged with a plurality (three) of engaged portions 35 arranged in the front-rear direction provided at the upper end portion of the right side wall of the second block 30 (refer to Figure 4 ). In this example, the engaging portion 34 is a locking piece having a locking projection, and the engaged portion 35 is a locking hole into which a locking piece is inserted to lock the locking projection. At the center portion in the front-rear direction on the outer surface of the left side wall of the second block 30, a fixing portion 42 for fixing to a vehicle body or the like of an automobile or the like is provided.

[0051] An extension cover portion 36 is integrally provided on the second cover portion 33. The extension cover portion 36 is a substantially rectangular flat plate-shaped portion that extends further in the planar direction of the second cover portion 33 from the "end edge portion extending in the front-rear direction along which a plurality of engaging portions 34 are provided" in the second cover portion 33 toward the side opposite to the plurality of hinge portions 32. In the state where the second cover portion 33 is closed (i.e., the state where the opening portion of the second groove portion 31 is closed), the extension cover portion 36 overlaps with the upper side of the first cover portion 23 that closes the opening portion of the first groove portion 21 of the first block 20 as described later, and functions to connect the first block 20 and the second block 30 (see Figure 1 and Figure 4 ). A recess 37 for accommodating the first cover portion 23 is formed on the surface of the extension cover portion 36 on the side that overlaps with the first cover portion 23 (in the closed state of the second cover portion 33) (see Figure 2 etc.). A covering portion 38 for covering the upper end portion of the fixing portion 41 is formed at the center in the front-rear direction of the extension end edge portion of the extension cover portion 36 extending in the front-rear direction in the state where the second cover portion 33 is closed (the state where the extension cover portion 36 overlaps with the upper side of the first cover portion 23). Here, the second cover portion 33 and the extension cover portion 36 correspond to "the other of the pair of cover portions" in the present invention. As described above, the structures of the respective components constituting the conductor 1 have been described.

[0052] Next, the steps for installing the exterior member 4 on the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 will be described. In order to install the exterior member 4 on the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3, first, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 6 , the second block 30 separated from the first block 20 is arranged adjacent to the left side of the first block 20 and arranged in the left-right direction, and a part of the extending direction of the first bus bar 2, i.e., the portion to be installed 13, is arranged above the first groove portion 21 opening upward, and a part of the extending direction of the second bus bar 3, i.e., the portion to be installed 13, is arranged above the second groove portion 31 opening upward with respect to the exterior member 4 in the state where the first cover portion 23 and the second cover portion 33 are open. Next, the portion to be installed 13 of the first bus bar 2 is moved downward to be accommodated in the first groove portion 21, and the first cover portion 23 is closed (see Figure 2 and Figure 5 ). Next, the portion to be installed 13 of the second bus bar 3 is moved downward to be accommodated in the second groove portion 31, and the second cover portion 33 is closed. By closing the second cover portion 33, the extension cover portion 36 integral with the second cover portion 36 overlaps with the upper side of the first cover portion 23 that closes the opening portion of the first groove portion 21 of the first block 20, and the first cover portion 23 is accommodated in the recess 37, and the first block 20 and the second block 30 are connected by covering the upper end portion of the fixing portion 41 of the first block 20 with the covering portion 38 (see Figure 1 andFigure 4 ). Thus, the installation of the exterior member 4 to the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 is completed, and the conductor 1 in the assembled state is obtained. Figure 1 In the assembled state of the conductor 1, the state where the first lid portion 23 is closed is maintained by the engagement of the engaging portion 24 and the engaged portion 25, and the state where the second lid portion 33 is closed is maintained by the engagement of the engaging portion 34 and the engaged portion 35. Further, the state where the first block 20 and the second block 30 are connected is maintained by keeping the covering portion 38 covering the upper end portion of the fixing portion 41 of the first block 20.

[0053] In this example, when closing the openings of both the first groove portion 21 and the second groove portion 31, the extended lid portion 36 integrated with the second lid portion 33 is disposed to overlap with the upper side of the first lid portion 23. Therefore, when closing the first lid portion 23 and the second lid portion 33, the second lid portion 33 is closed after closing the first lid portion 23. That is, the order of closing the first lid portion 23 and the second lid portion 33 is restricted.

[0054] The assembled conductor 1 is mounted on an automobile or the like with the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 disposed thereon, and is mounted on a pair of fixing portions 41 and 42 provided on the exterior member 4 of each of the mounted portions 13 of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 (refer to Figure 1 etc.) and fixed to the body of the automobile or the like.

[0055] In the assembled conductor 1, when removing the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 from the exterior member 4, first, the closed second lid portion 33 is opened, and the mounted portion 13 of the second bus bar 3 is moved upward through the opening opened above the second groove portion 31 toward the outside of the second groove portion 31 (refer to Figure 2 and Figure 5 ). By opening the second lid portion 33, the state where the extended lid portion 36 overlaps with the upper side of the first lid portion 23 is released, so that the first lid portion 23 can be opened. Next, the closed first lid portion 23 is opened, and the mounted portion 13 of the first bus bar 2 is moved upward through the opening opened above the first groove portion 21 toward the outside of the first groove portion 21 (refer to Figure 3 and Figure 6 ). Thus, the operation of removing the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 from the exterior member 4 is completed.

[0056] In this example, when the openings of both the first groove portion 21 and the second groove portion 31 are closed, the extended cover portion 36 integrated with the second cover portion 33 is configured to coincide with the upper side of the first cover portion 23. Therefore, when opening the first cover portion 23 and the second cover portion 33, the first cover portion 23 is opened after the second cover portion 33 is opened. That is, the order of opening the first cover portion 23 and the second cover portion 33 is restricted. Thereby, when detaching the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 from the exterior member 4, accidental short circuits between the bus bars can be prevented by preventing one bus bar from contacting the other bus bar.

[0057] <Function / Effect>

[0058] According to the conductor 1 of the present embodiment, the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 are each composed of a conductor portion 11 covered with an insulating coating layer 12, and at least a part thereof has a mounted portion 13 extending linearly. The mounted portion 13 is for mounting the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 to the exterior member 4. Specifically, the mounted portions 13 of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 are respectively received in the first groove portion 21 and the second groove portion 31 provided in the exterior member 4. Thus, since the conductor portions 11 of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 are covered with the insulating coating layer 12, it is not necessary to provide the exterior member 4 so as to cover the entire first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3. Furthermore, the exterior member 4 only needs to have the first groove portion 21 and the second groove portion 31 capable of receiving the linearly extending mounted portion 13 and the first cover portion 23 and the second cover portion 33 for opening and closing the first groove portion 21 and the second groove portion 31, and does not need to have a dedicated shape for each bus bar. Therefore, the versatility of the exterior member 4 can be improved. On the other hand, in the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3, the shape of the portion other than the mounted portion 13 can be designed without considering the existence of the exterior member 4. Therefore, the design freedom of the shape of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 can be improved. Therefore, the conductor 1 can achieve both an improvement in the design freedom of the shape of the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 and an improvement in the versatility of the exterior member 4.

[0059] Furthermore, the first cover portion 23 and the extended cover portion 36 integral with the second cover portion 33 are arranged in such a manner that when the openings of both the first groove portion 21 and the second groove portion 31 are closed, the extended cover portion 36 coincides with the upper side of the first cover portion 23. Therefore, when the first cover portion 23 and the second cover portion 33 are opened, after opening the second cover portion 33 integral with the extended cover portion 36 located above, the first cover portion 23 located below is then opened. That is, the order of opening the first cover portion 23 and the second cover portion 33 is restricted. Thus, when the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 are removed from the exterior member 4, by preventing one bus bar from contacting the other bus bar, an accidental short circuit between the bus bars can be prevented. Moreover, miniaturization of the exterior member 4 can be achieved, or the workability of the operation of mounting the exterior member 4 on the first bus bar 2 and the second bus bar 3 can be improved.

[0060] Furthermore, the first cover portion 23 is displaceably connected to the first block 20 of the exterior member 4 in a hinge-like manner. When the opening of the first groove portion 21 located in the first block 20 is closed by the first cover portion 23, the engaging portion 24 of the first cover portion 23 engages with the engaged portion 25 provided on the first block 20. In contrast, the second cover portion 33 is displaceably connected to the second block 30 of the exterior member 4 in a hinge-like manner. Furthermore, when the opening of the second groove portion 31 located in the second block 30 is closed by the second cover portion 33, the engaging portion 34 of the second cover portion 33 engages with the engaged portion 35 provided on the second block 30, and the extended cover portion 36 integral with the second cover portion 33 coincides with the first cover portion 23 closing the opening of the first groove portion 21 of the first block 20 and connects the first block 20 and the second block 30. Therefore, even if the first block 20 and the second block 30 are separate bodies, the first block 20 and the second block 30 can be connected by the extended cover portion 36 integral with the second cover portion 33 while restricting the order of opening the first cover portion 23 and the second cover portion 33.

[0061] <Other ways>

[0062] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modification examples can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately deformed, improved, etc. Also, as long as the present invention can be achieved, the material, shape, size, quantity, arrangement position, etc. of each component element in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the first block 20 and the second block 30 are separate bodies. In contrast, the first block 20 and the second block 30 may also be integrally connected components.

[0064] Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the conductor 1 of the present invention are briefly summarized as the following [1] to [2] and listed. [1]

[0066] A conductor (1) includes a pair of bus bars (2, 3) and an exterior member (4) mounted on the pair of bus bars (2, 3). Among them,

[0067] each of the pair of bus bars (2, 3) has a conductor portion (11) and an insulating coating layer (12) covering the conductor portion (11), and at least a part thereof has a mounted portion (13) extending linearly.

[0068] The exterior member (4) has:

[0069] a pair of groove portions (21, 31) extending linearly in a manner capable of accommodating the mounted portions (13) of the pair of bus bars (2, 3) respectively; and a pair of lid portions (23, 33, 36) capable of opening and closing the openings of the pair of groove portions (21, 31) respectively.

[0070] The pair of lid portions (23, 33, 36) are arranged in such a way that when closing the openings of both of the pair of groove portions (21, 31), one (23) of the pair of lid portions and the other (36) overlap.

[0071] For the conductor having the structure according to the above [1], the pair of bus bars are each composed of a conductor portion covered by an insulating coating layer, and at least a part thereof has a mounted portion extending linearly. The mounted portion is used for the installation of the bus bar and the exterior member. Specifically, the mounted portions of the pair of bus bars are respectively accommodated in the pair of groove portions of the exterior member. In this way, since the conductor portion of the bus bar is covered by the insulating coating layer, there is no need to provide an exterior member to cover the entire bus bar. Furthermore, the exterior member only needs to have groove portions capable of accommodating the linearly extending mounted portions and lid portions for opening and closing the groove portions, and there is no need to have a dedicated shape for each bus bar. Therefore, the versatility of the exterior member can be improved. On the other hand, in the bus bar, the shape of the portion other than the mounted portion can be designed without considering the existence of the exterior member. Therefore, the design freedom of the shape of the bus bar can be improved. Therefore, the conductor of this structure can achieve both an improvement in the design freedom of the bus bar shape and an improvement in the versatility of the exterior member.

[0072] Furthermore, the conductor with the above structure has other effects. Specifically, the pair of lid portions are arranged in such a way that when the openings of both of the pair of groove portions are closed, one and the other of the pair of lid portions overlap. Therefore, when the pair of lid portions are opened, after the upper lid portion is opened, the lower lid portion is then opened. That is, the order of opening the pair of lid portions is restricted. Thereby, when the bus bar is removed from the exterior member, accidental short circuits between the bus bars can be prevented by preventing one bus bar from contacting the other bus bar. Furthermore, miniaturization of the exterior member or improvement in workability of the operation of mounting the exterior member to the bus bar can be achieved. [2]

[0074] The conductor (1) as described in the above [1], wherein,

[0075] The above exterior member (4) has:

[0076] A first block (20) that constitutes one (21) of the pair of the above groove portions; a second block (30) that constitutes the other (31) of the pair of the above groove portions and is separated from the above first block (20),

[0077] One (23) of the pair of the above lid portions is displaceably connected to the above first block (20) in a hinge-like manner, and when closing the opening of the above one groove portion (21), it engages with the engaged portion (25) provided on the above first block (20).

[0078] The other (33, 36) of the pair of the above lid portions is displaceably connected to the above second block (30) in a hinge-like manner, and when closing the opening of the above other groove portion (31), it engages with the engaged portion (35) provided on the above second block (30), and overlaps with the above one lid portion (23), and connects the above first block (20) and the above second block (30).

[0079] According to the conductor having the structure of the above [2], one lid portion is displaceably connected to the first block of the exterior member in a hinge-like manner. Furthermore, when closing the opening of the groove portion located in the first block by using this lid portion (one lid portion), this lid portion engages with the engaged portion provided on the first block. In contrast, the other lid portion is displaceably connected to the second block of the exterior member in a hinge-like manner. Furthermore, when closing the opening of the groove portion located in the second block by using this lid portion (the other lid portion), this lid portion engages with the engaged portion provided on the second block, and overlaps with the lid portion (one lid portion) that closes the opening of the groove portion in the first block, and connects the first block and the second block. Therefore, even if the first block and the second block are separated, it is possible to connect the first block and the second block by either one of the pair of lid portions while restricting the order of opening the pair of lid portions.

[0080] In addition, the first block and the second block may not be separate but integral components connected to each other.

Claims

1. A conductor comprising a pair of bus bars and an exterior member mounted on the pair of bus bars, wherein: The pair of bus bars each have a conductor portion and an insulating coating layer covering the conductor portion, and have a mounted portion extending linearly in at least a portion thereof. The exterior component comprises: a pair of grooves extending linearly in a manner capable of accommodating the mounted portions of the pair of bus bars; and a pair of covers capable of opening and closing the openings of the pair of grooves. The pair of cover parts are arranged so that one of the pair of cover parts overlaps with the other when the openings of both the pair of groove parts are closed.

2. The conductor according to claim 1, wherein The exterior component comprises: a first block constituting one of the pair of grooves; a second block constituting the other of the pair of grooves and being separate from the first block, One of the pair of cover parts is hingedly connected to the first block so as to be displaceable, and is engaged with an engaged portion provided on the first block when the opening of the one of the pair of groove parts is closed. The other of the pair of cover parts is hingedly displaceably connected to the second block, and when closing the opening of the other of the pair of groove parts, it engages with the engaged portion provided on the second block, overlaps with the one of the pair of cover parts, and connects the first block and the second block.

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