Circuit configuration body
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022102932
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-06-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-05
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-06-27
AI Technical Summary
Conventional circuit structures for vehicles with heat-generating components, such as relays, suffer from decreased heat dissipation efficiency due to the need for a heat conductive member to bridge the bus bar and the heat dissipation target, occupying valuable mounting space.
A circuit structure that incorporates a current-carrying bus bar with a hollow conduit and connecting tubes connected to an external refrigerant source, allowing direct refrigerant cooling through the bus bar to enhance heat dissipation efficiency while reducing the space required for heat conductive members.
The proposed structure improves heat dissipation efficiency by directly cooling the heat-generating components using refrigerant flow through the bus bar, minimizing the space occupied by heat conductive members and maintaining effective assembly and workability.
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a circuit configuration including a heat-generating component. [Background technology]
[0002] Conventionally, vehicles are equipped with circuit configurations including heat-generating components such as relays. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a circuit configuration in which a first bus bar connected to an output terminal of a battery, a second bus bar connected to an input terminal of a load, and a relay connected between the first and second bus bars are housed in a case. In such a circuit configuration, in order to dissipate heat generated by the relay, which is a heat-generating component, to the outside, a structure is adopted in which the bus bar connected to the relay is pressed against the housing of the battery, which is the heat dissipation target, via a sheet-like heat conductive member and an insulating member, and the heat of the relay is transferred to the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-93711 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] However, in the structure of Patent Document 1, the bus bar needs to be in contact with the heat dissipation target via a thermally conductive member. Furthermore, a thermally conductive member needs to be interposed between the bus bar and the heat dissipation target in order to absorb tolerances. Therefore, it is unavoidable that the heat dissipation efficiency is reduced.
[0005] Therefore, a circuit structure is disclosed that can reduce the mounting area occupied by the thermally conductive member inside the housing and improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat-generating components using the current-carrying bus bars. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] The circuit structure disclosed herein comprises a heat-generating component and an electric busbar connected to a connection portion of the heat-generating component, the electric busbar having a bolt fastening portion having a bolt insertion hole and a hollow pipe extending through the interior of the electric busbar and including a first opening opening at one longitudinal end of the electric busbar and a second opening opening at the other longitudinal end, the electric busbar further having a first connecting pipe fluid-tightly connected to the one end of the electric busbar and surrounding the first opening and communicating with the first opening, and a second connecting pipe fluid-tightly connected to the other end of the electric busbar and surrounding the second opening and communicating with the second opening, the first connecting pipe having a first pipe connection port connectable to an external refrigerant source, and the second connecting pipe having a second pipe connection port connectable to the refrigerant source. Effect of the Invention
[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a circuit structure that can reduce the mounting area occupied by heat conductive members within a housing and improve the heat dissipation efficiency of heat-generating components using current-carrying bus bars. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a circuit assembly according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for roughly explaining a specific example of the electrical configuration of the circuit configuration shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the circuit assembly shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a lower assembly constituting the circuit configuration shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the lower assembly shown 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 taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper case is removed from the circuit assembly according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] <Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure> First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The circuit configuration of the present disclosure comprises: the electrical busbar includes a bolt fastening portion having a bolt insertion hole, and a hollow pipeline extending through the interior of the electrical busbar and including a first opening opening at one longitudinal end of the electrical busbar and a second opening opening at the other longitudinal end, the electrical busbar further includes a first connecting pipe fluid-tightly connected to the one longitudinal end of the electrical busbar and surrounding the first opening, and a second connecting pipe fluid-tightly connected to the other end of the electrical busbar and surrounding the second opening, the first connecting pipe having a first pipeline connection port connectable to an external refrigerant source, and the second connecting pipe having a second pipeline connection port connectable to the refrigerant source.
[0010] According to the circuit assembly of the present disclosure, the current-carrying busbar connected to the connection part of the heat-generating component has a bolt fastening part and a hollow duct. In addition, the current-carrying busbar is fluid-tightly connected to a first connection pipe body and a second connection pipe body, the first opening and the second opening of which are in communication with both ends of the current-carrying busbar, and the first and second pipe connection ports that can be connected to an external refrigerant source are provided in the connection pipe body. This allows the current-carrying busbar connected to the connection part of the heat-generating component to be kept in a cooled state by the refrigerant from the refrigerant source circulating in the internal hollow duct. As a result, the current-carrying busbar connected to the connection part of the heat-generating component can quickly dissipate heat generated directly by the heat-generating component. Therefore, the mounting area occupied by the heat-conducting member in the housing can be reduced compared to the conventional structure, and the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat-generating component using the current-carrying busbar can be advantageously improved.
[0011] Moreover, since the inside of the current-carrying busbar is used to provide a hollow pipe through which the coolant flows, it is possible to promote cooling of the heat-generating components while meeting the demand for space saving. In addition, since the current-carrying busbar is provided with a bolt fastening portion having a bolt insertion hole, the work of fastening to the connection portion of the heat-generating components and other intermediate busbars can be easily performed, ensuring the same workability as a general current-carrying busbar.
[0012] The refrigerant can be taken from a refrigerant source installed in the vehicle, and any available refrigerant can be used, but preferably, a refrigerant such as Fluorinert, which is an insulator, can be used.
[0013] It is preferable that the first pipe line connection port of the first connecting pipe body protrudes and opens to the side of the current-carrying bus bar and is connected to a refrigerant supply pipe line that supplies refrigerant from the refrigerant source, and the second pipe line connection port of the second connecting pipe body protrudes and opens to the side of the current-carrying bus bar and is connected to a refrigerant return pipe line that returns the refrigerant to the refrigerant source.
[0014] The first pipe connection port of the first connecting pipe body and the second pipe connection port of the second connecting pipe body are each open by protruding to the side of the energizing busbar. This allows the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant return pipe to be easily connected to the first opening and the second opening of the hollow pipe of the energizing busbar, improving the ease of assembly. As a result, the refrigerant from the refrigerant source is supplied from the refrigerant supply pipe through the first opening of the hollow pipe of the energizing busbar, and the refrigerant that has flowed through the inside of the hollow pipe is discharged from the second opening of the hollow pipe and returned to the refrigerant source through the refrigerant return pipe. Furthermore, since the first and second pipe connection ports are each provided by protruding to the side of the energizing busbar, an assembly space for the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant return pipe can be secured at a location outside the wiring area of the energizing busbar, further improving the ease of assembly. Furthermore, since the first and second pipe connection ports are each provided protruding from the side of the current-carrying bus bar, the height of the circuit assembly can be reduced even when the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant return pipe are assembled, thereby advantageously meeting the demand for space saving.
[0015] Preferably, the current-carrying busbar includes a central region extending in a central portion in a width direction by a predetermined width, and a pair of side regions extending in a width direction on both sides of the central region by a predetermined width, the central region being formed solid over the entire length in the longitudinal direction except for the bolt insertion holes, and at least one of the side regions being provided with the hollow duct penetrating in the longitudinal direction. Since the bolt insertion holes are provided in the central region provided in the central portion in the width direction, the bolt fastening portion can be provided in the central portion in the width direction of the current-carrying busbar, enabling stable bolt fastening. Furthermore, since the central region is solid over the entire length in the longitudinal direction except for the bolt insertion holes, and the side regions are provided with the hollow duct penetrating in the longitudinal direction, the central region and the pair of side regions in the current-carrying busbar having the special structure as disclosed herein can be easily manufactured by extrusion molding.
[0016] It is preferable that the bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying busbar is directly bolted to the connection portion of the heat-generating component. By directly bolting the bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying busbar to the connection portion of the heat-generating component, the heat generated in the heat-generating component can be directly transferred from the connection portion of the heat-generating component to the current-carrying busbar, and the heat can be quickly dissipated by the current-carrying busbar through which the refrigerant circulates. As a result, the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat-generating component can be further improved compared to a conventional structure in which the busbar needs to be routed to a heat dissipation target.
[0017] It is preferable that the bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying busbar includes a first bolt fastening portion provided on the one end side and a second bolt fastening portion provided on the other end side, and the first bolt fastening portion and the second bolt fastening portion are directly bolted to the connection portions of the pair of adjacently arranged heat-generating components. By connecting the connection portions of the adjacently arranged heat-generating components to the first bolt fastening portion and the second bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying busbar, respectively, the current-carrying busbar of the present disclosure can be fastened directly to the pair of heat-generating components, and heat can be dissipated from the heat-generating components via the current-carrying busbar with good heat dissipation efficiency. Moreover, since the arrangement distance of the current-carrying busbar with the special structure of the present disclosure can be shortened while maintaining the advantage of heat dissipation efficiency, it is possible to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat-generating components in a compact and low-cost manner.
[0018] It is preferable that the connection portions of the pair of adjacently arranged heat generating components are provided so as to open onto the top surface of each of the heat generating components, and the current-carrying busbar is placed on the top surface of the pair of heat generating components. By connecting the first and second bolt fastening portions of the current-carrying busbar to the connection portions provided on the top surfaces of the pair of heat generating components, the current-carrying busbar can be placed on the top surfaces of the heat generating components. As a result, even if surplus length is provided for absorbing tolerances in the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant return pipe routed from both ends of the current-carrying busbar, a space for absorbing the surplus length can be secured due to the height dimension of the heat generating components, and the ease of assembly of the circuit configuration can be further improved.
[0019] It is preferable that the opening direction of the connection part of the heat generating component and the opening direction of the bolt fastening part of the current-carrying busbar are perpendicular to each other, and the connection part and the bolt fastening part are connected by fastening both ends of a connecting fitting bent in an L-shape to the connection part and the bolt fastening part with a bolt. The connection part and the bolt fastening part are connected by fastening both ends of a connecting fitting bent in an L-shape to the connection part and the bolt fastening part with a bolt. Therefore, for example, even if it is difficult to directly connect the bolt fastening part of the current-carrying busbar to the connection part of the heat generating component due to the arrangement state of the heat generating component, the connection part and the bolt fastening part can be connected with a short connection distance via a separate L-shaped connecting fitting. As a result, even if it is difficult to directly connect the bolt fastening part of the current-carrying busbar to the connection part of the heat generating component, the reduction in the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat generating component can be advantageously suppressed.
[0020] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Specific examples of the circuit configuration 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.
[0021] <Embodiment 1> Hereinafter, the circuit configuration 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. As shown in Fig. 2, the circuit configuration 10 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown), such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and supplies and controls power from a power source 12, such as a battery, to a load 14, such as a motor. As shown in Fig. 2, a fuse 16, a precharge relay 18, a precharge resistor 20, and the like, which are provided in a circuit from the power source 12 to the load 14, may also be mounted inside the circuit configuration 10. However, in Figs. 1 and 3 to 7, the parts A and A' in Fig. 2, which are essential parts of the present disclosure, will be described as the circuit configuration 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the circuit configuration 10 is provided with parts A and A', which are essential parts, but since these parts have the same shape, only part A will be described and the other part A' will not be described.
[0022] The circuit assembly 10 can be arranged in any orientation, but in the following description, upper refers to upper in Fig. 6, lower refers to lower in Fig. 6, front refers to right in Fig. 5, rear refers to left in Fig. 5, left refers to lower in Fig. 5, and right refers to upper in Fig. 5. Furthermore, for multiple identical components, reference numerals may be given to only some of the components and the reference numerals may be omitted for the other components.
[0023] <Circuit construct 10> The circuit assembly 10 includes a relay 22 as a heat-generating component, and an energizing bus bar 26 connected to a connection portion 24 of the relay 22. The energizing bus bar 26 has a hollow pipe 32 including a first opening 28 and a second opening 30. A refrigerant supply pipe 36 that supplies a refrigerant from a refrigerant source 34 (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 ) is connected to the first opening 28 of the hollow pipe 32, and a refrigerant return pipe 38 that returns the refrigerant to the refrigerant source 34 is connected to the second opening 30 of the hollow pipe 32.
[0024] <Heat generating component (relay 22)> In the first embodiment, a pair of relays 22, 22 are arranged at a distance from each other in the left-right direction, and a first relay 22a on the left side and a second relay 22b on the right side are provided. These first and second relays 22a, 22b are arranged relatively close to each other, and the first and second relays 22a, 22b are arranged adjacent to each other. The first and second relays 22a, 22b each include a relay body 40, 40 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. These first and second relays 22a, 22b are both arranged facing upward, and a pair of connecting parts 24, 24 are provided at a distance from each other in the front-rear direction on the top surface 41 of each of the first and second relays 22a, 22b.
[0025] That is, the first relay 22a is provided with a positive electrode first connection portion 24a and a negative electrode first connection portion 24b, and the second relay 22b is provided with a positive electrode second connection portion 24c and a negative electrode second connection portion 24d. In short, the respective connection portions (positive electrode and negative electrode first connection portions 24a, 24b, positive electrode and negative electrode second connection portions 24c, 24d) of a pair of adjacently arranged heat generating components (first and second relays 22a, 22b) are provided so as to open on the respective top surfaces 41 of the heat generating components (first and second relays 22a, 22b).
[0026] In the first embodiment, the first and second relays 22a and 22b are each formed to have a rotationally symmetric shape around a central axis extending in the vertical direction, including a leg portion 46 described later, and the second relay 22b is arranged in a state rotated 180 degrees around the central axis extending in the vertical direction with respect to the first relay 22a. As a result, in the first embodiment, the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, and the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a and the negative electrode side second connection portion 24d are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c are connected by the current-carrying bus bar 26, so that the first relay 22a and the second relay 22b are electrically connected in series, as shown in FIG.
[0027] Specifically, the current-carrying busbar 26 is provided with a pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52, which will be described later, and the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c are in communication with the pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52. Then, a bolt 42 is inserted into each of the pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52, and each bolt 42 is fastened to the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c. As a result, each bolt fastening portion 54 (a first bolt fastening portion 54a and a second bolt fastening portion 54b, which will be described later) of the current-carrying busbar 26 is directly bolt-fastened to the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c.
[0028] 2, a conductive member such as a bus bar is connected to the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a, and in the first embodiment, the conductive member extends to the outside of a case 78 (described later) of the circuit configuration 10 via the fuse 16, and is electrically connected to a positive electrode side terminal of the power source 12. Similarly, a conductive member such as a bus bar is connected to the negative electrode side second connection portion 24d, and the conductive member extends to the outside of a case 78 (described later) of the circuit configuration 10, and is electrically connected to a negative electrode side terminal of the load 14. Note that a precharge circuit 43 including a precharge relay 18 and a precharge resistor 20 is provided between the conductive member connected to the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a and the current-carrying bus bar 26 so as to bypass the first relay 22a.
[0029] 2, a conductive member such as a bus bar is connected to the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b of the first relay 22a, and the conductive member extends to the outside of a case 78 (described later) of the circuit configuration 10 and is electrically connected to a negative electrode side terminal of the power source 12. Similarly, a conductive member such as a bus bar is connected to the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c of the second relay 22b, and the conductive member extends to the outside of a case 78 (described later) of the circuit configuration 10 and is electrically connected to a positive electrode side terminal of the load 14. And, for the main part A' in FIG. 2, the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a and the negative electrode side second connection portion 24d are electrically connected by the current-carrying bus bar 26. That is, in the main part A' in Figure 2, two connection parts (the positive side first connection part 24a and the negative side second connection part 24d) located at the rear of the lower side assembly 97 described later and shown in Figure 4 etc. are connected by the current-carrying bus bar 26.
[0030] In addition, a partition plate 44 is provided between the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a and the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b of the first relay 22a, and between the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c and the negative electrode side second connection portion 24d of the second relay 22b, protruding upward to separate the relays. Furthermore, legs 46 are provided at the lower end of each relay body 40, protruding outward on both sides in the front-rear direction. These legs 46 are provided with bolt insertion holes 48 that penetrate in the vertical direction, and the first and second relays 22a, 22b are fixed to a lower case 82 that constitutes a case 78, which will be described later, by bolts 50 inserted into the bolt insertion holes 48.
[0031] <Electric bus bar 26> The current-carrying bus bar 26 has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped bus bar body 51 extending in the left-right direction as a whole. The busbar body 51 is formed of a metal with good conductivity, such as copper (including copper alloys) or aluminum (including aluminum alloys). The busbar body 51 has a bolt fastening portion 54 having a bolt insertion hole 52, and a hollow duct 32 that extends through the inside of the current-carrying busbar 26 and includes a first opening 28 that opens at one end (left end) in the longitudinal direction of the current-carrying busbar 26 and a second opening 30 that opens at the other end (right end). That is, the portion of the busbar body 51 surrounding the circular bolt insertion hole 52 is the bolt fastening portion 54.
[0032] In the first embodiment, a pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52 (bolt fastening portions 54, 54) are provided in the center of the width direction (front-rear direction) of the busbar body 51, spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction). That is, a first bolt fastening portion 54a is provided at one end (left end) of the busbar body 51, and a second bolt fastening portion 54b is provided at the other end (right end), and the bolt fastening portions 54, 54 include the first bolt fastening portion 54a and the second bolt fastening portion 54b. The first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b each have a bolt insertion hole 52. The method for forming such a busbar body 51 is not limited, but in the first embodiment, the busbar body 51 is formed by extrusion molding.
[0033] 6, the busbar body 51 includes a central region 56 extending by a predetermined width in the central portion in the width direction (front-rear direction), and a pair of side regions 58, 58 extending by a predetermined width on both sides in the width direction of the central region 56. Note that when the busbar body 51 is extrusion-molded, the central region 56 is formed solid over its entire length in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction), and a pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52 are formed after molding of the busbar body 51. As a result, the central region 56 is formed solid over its entire length in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) except for the bolt insertion holes 52.
[0034] 6 and 7, a hollow duct 32 extending over the entire length in the longitudinal direction is provided in each of the pair of side regions 58, 58. The size, cross-sectional shape, number, etc. of the hollow ducts 32 are not limited, but in the first embodiment, five hollow ducts 32 each having a substantially rectangular cross section are provided in each side region 58 and spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. Then, each of the total ten hollow ducts 32 opens at the first openings 28 and the second openings 30 at both the left and right ends.
[0035] Furthermore, the current-carrying busbar 26 has a first connecting pipe 60 that is fluid-tightly connected to one end (the left end) of the busbar body 51 and surrounds each of the first openings 28 to communicate with each of the first openings 28, and a second connecting pipe 62 that is fluid-tightly connected to the other end (the right end) of the busbar body 51 and surrounds each of the second openings 30 to communicate with each of the second openings 30. Each of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 is a hollow pipe extending in the front-rear direction, and includes a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 64 and an inner hole 66 that extends inside the peripheral wall 64 in the front-rear direction.
[0036] The first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 each have a closed rear opening, and each open forward. The front openings of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 are a first pipe connection port 68 and a second pipe connection port 70 to which the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are connected, respectively. The first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 are preferably made of metal, but are not required to be made of the same material as the busbar body 51, and are not required to have good electrical conductivity. In other words, the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 are not required to have electrical conductivity, and may be made of, for example, an insulating synthetic resin.
[0037] Further, through holes 72 for connection to both ends of the busbar main body 51 are formed in each peripheral wall 64 of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62. That is, each through hole 72 has a rectangular shape that generally corresponds to both ends of the busbar main body 51, and is formed penetrating in the radial direction (left-right direction) at an inner portion in the opposing direction (left-right direction) of each peripheral wall 64. One end (left end) of the busbar main body 51 is inserted into the through hole 72 in the first connecting pipe 60, and the outer circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 64 and the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 72 are fixed to each other by welding, adhesive, or the like, thereby connecting one end of the busbar main body 51 and the first connecting pipe 60 in a fluid-tight manner.
[0038] Similarly, the other end (right end) of the busbar body 51 is inserted into the through hole 72 in the second connecting pipe 62, and the outer circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 64 and the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 72 are fixed to each other by welding, adhesive, or the like, thereby fluid-tightly connecting the other end of the busbar body 51 to the second connecting pipe 62. In the first embodiment, the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 protrude forward to the sides of the busbar body 51, and openings (first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70) of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 are provided forward in the protruding direction.
[0039] As a result, the first openings 28 of each hollow duct 32 provided at the left end of the busbar body 51 open into the peripheral wall 64 of the first connecting pipe 60, and each hollow duct 32 communicates with an inner hole 66 of the first connecting pipe 60. Similarly, the second openings 30 of each hollow duct 32 provided at the right end of the busbar body 51 open into the peripheral wall 64 of the second connecting pipe 62, and each hollow duct 32 communicates with an inner hole 66 of the second connecting pipe 62.
[0040] <Refrigerant supply pipe 36 and refrigerant return pipe 38> In the first embodiment, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are each formed of a rubber tube made of rubber (including elastomer), and the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are each flexibly and elastically deformable. That is, the first pipe connection port 68 of the first connecting pipe 60 is inserted into the rear opening of the refrigerant supply pipe 36 in a substantially press-fit state, thereby connecting the first connecting pipe 60 and the refrigerant supply pipe 36 in a fluid-tight manner. Similarly, the second pipe connection port 70 of the second connecting pipe 62 is inserted into the rear opening of the refrigerant return pipe 38 in a substantially press-fit state, thereby connecting the second connecting pipe 62 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 in a fluid-tight manner. As a result, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 extend forward from the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62, respectively, with the inner holes 74 in the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 communicating with the inner holes 66 in the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62, respectively.
[0041] The refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 may each have a predetermined shape, and may have a shape that extends forward from the first pipe connection port 68 and the second pipe connection port 70, bends downward, and then extends forward again at its lower end, as shown in Fig. 3 etc. Alternatively, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 do not need to have a specific shape, and may be arranged so that the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are sandwiched and supported between an upper case 80 and a lower case 82, which will be described later, during assembly of the circuit configuration 10, so that the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are bent downward relative to the first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70.
[0042] The ends of the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 opposite to the ends connected to the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 are connected to the refrigerant source 34. By connecting the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 to the refrigerant source 34 in this manner, a refrigerant flow path 76 is formed that runs from the refrigerant source 34 via the refrigerant supply pipe 36, the first connecting pipe 60, the bus bar main body 51 (each hollow pipe 32), the second connecting pipe 62, and the refrigerant return pipe 38 and returns to the refrigerant source 34.
[0043] The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 76 is not limited, but is preferably insulating, and for example, 3M's "Fluorinert (registered trademark)" or "Novec (registered trademark)" may be used. As the refrigerant source 34, for example, a chiller (cooling water circulation system) including a pump or the like (not shown) may be provided separately, or a chiller already installed in the vehicle may be used. By using a chiller including a pump as the refrigerant source 34, the refrigerant can be caused to flow in the refrigerant flow path 76. The location of the pump is not limited to the refrigerant source 34 (i.e., between the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38), and may be disposed at an appropriate location on the refrigerant flow path 76.
[0044] <Case 78> In the first embodiment, the first and second relays 22a, 22b, the energizing bus bar 26, etc. are accommodated in a case 78 made of synthetic resin, metal, etc. In particular, in the first embodiment, the case 78 is composed of an upper case 80 on the upper side and a lower case 82 on the lower side, and the upper case 80 and the lower case 82 can be assembled and separated from each other in the vertical direction. Note that in Figs. 1 and 3 to 7, the first and second relays 22a, 22b, the energizing bus bar 26, etc. constituting the main part A in Fig. 2 are accommodated in the case 78, but in addition to these, the first and second relays 22a, 22b, the energizing bus bar 26, the fuse 16, the pre-charge relay 18, the pre-charge resistor 20, etc. constituting the main part A' in Fig. 2 may be accommodated in the case 78 as described above.
[0045] The upper case 80 has a generally box shape that opens downward as a whole, and includes an upper bottom wall portion 84 that is generally rectangular in a plan view, and an upper peripheral wall portion 86 that protrudes downward from the outer periphery of the upper bottom wall portion 84. A pipe insertion portion 88, through which the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 that protrude forward are inserted, is provided in the front portion of the upper peripheral wall portion 86, which opens downward and penetrates in the front-to-rear direction.
[0046] The lower case 82 has a generally box-like shape that opens upward as a whole, and includes a bottom wall portion 90 that is generally rectangular in a plan view, and a lower peripheral wall portion 92 that protrudes upward from the outer periphery of the bottom wall portion 90. A pair of relay mounting portions 94, 94 that protrude upward are provided on the bottom wall portion 90, and the first and second relays 22a, 22b are mounted on each of the relay mounting portions 94. In addition, a pipe support portion 96 that supports the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 is provided at a front portion of the lower peripheral wall portion 92 and protrudes upward.
[0047] <Assembly process of the circuit structure 10> Next, a specific example of the process of assembling the circuit assembly 10 will be described. Note that the process of assembling the circuit assembly 10 is not limited to the following description.
[0048] First, the first and second relays 22a, 22b are placed facing upward on the respective relay placement portions 94 of the lower case 82 and bolted in place with the respective bolts 50. Thereafter, the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b of the energizing busbar 26 are placed on the respective top faces 41 of the first and second relays 22a, 22b in front of the respective partition plates 44, so that the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c communicate with the respective bolt insertion holes 52. Then, the bolts 42 are inserted into the respective bolt insertion holes 52 and fastened to the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c, thereby bolting the energizing busbar 26 to the first and second relays 22a, 22b.
[0049] Next, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are respectively connected to the first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70 of the first and second connecting pipe bodies 60, 62. This completes the lower side assembly 97 as shown in Figures 4 to 7. Note that the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 may be fixed to the first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70 before the energizing bus bar 26 is fixed to the first and second relays 22a, 22b.
[0050] Thereafter, with the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 extending forward from the first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70 placed on the respective pipe support portions 96 of the lower case 82, the upper case 80 is assembled to the lower case 82 from above, and the lower case 82 and the upper case 80 are fixed together by a locking mechanism (not shown) or the like. This completes the case 78, and with it the circuit assembly 10. In the circuit assembly 10, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are sandwiched between the pipe insertion portions 88 and the pipe support portions 96 in the up-down direction, and the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 protrude forward beyond the case 78.
[0051] The circuit assembly 10 assembled as described above is housed and disposed in the housing of a battery pack of a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, or the like. In the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 in the circuit assembly 10, the ends opposite to the ends connected to the first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70 are connected to the refrigerant source 34. As shown in FIG. 2, the positive electrode side first connection part 24a in the main part A is electrically connected to the positive electrode side terminal of the power source 12, and the negative electrode side second connection part 24d is electrically connected to the negative electrode side terminal of the load 14. Furthermore, the negative electrode side first connection part 24b in the main part A' is electrically connected to the negative electrode side terminal of the power source 12, and the positive electrode side second connection part 24c is electrically connected to the positive electrode side terminal of the load 14.
[0052] In the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, a conductive member such as a bus bar is electrically connected to the intermediate portion of each of the current-carrying bus bars 26 in the main parts A and A', and a capacitor 98 and an inverter 100 are connected in parallel to each of them. That is, in an electric circuit that returns to the power source 12 from the power source 12 via the circuit configuration 10 in the main part A, the load 14, and the circuit configuration 10 in the main part A', the capacitor 98 and the inverter 100 are branched and connected to the downstream of the first relay 22a in the main part A (upstream of the second relay 22b) and the upstream of the first relay 22a in the main part A' (downstream of the second relay 22b). The inverter 100 can be connected to, for example, a household outlet or the like via a cable or the like, and can convert the power obtained from a household power source into direct current and store it in the capacitor 98.
[0053] In the circuit assembly 10 connected to the electric circuit as described above, when the first and second relays 22a, 22b in the main part A and the first and second relays 22a, 22b in the main part A' are both in the ON state, power is supplied from the power source 12 to the load 14, and a motor, which is a specific example of the load 14, is driven. Note that even when the first relay 22a in the main part A is cut off due to detection of an abnormal current or the like, electricity flows through the precharge circuit 43, bypassing the first relay 22a, and power is supplied from the power source 12 to the load 14, and a motor is driven, for example. Also, when an abnormal current is detected or the like and the fuse 16 and each of the first relays 22a in the main parts A and A' are turned OFF (when the power supply fails), each of the second relays 22b in the main parts A and A' are turned ON, thereby forming a power path from the capacitor 98 to the load 14. As a result, the power stored in the capacitor 98 is supplied to the load 14, and a motor, for example, can be driven.
[0054] Alternatively, by turning on each of the first relays 22a in the main parts A and A' and turning off each of the second relays 22b, a power path is formed from the power source 12 to the inverter 100. This allows the power of the power source 12 to be converted into AC power and extracted as household power via a cable or the like connected to the inverter 100.
[0055] According to the circuit configuration 10 as described above, when electricity is applied to the first and second relays 22a, 22b in the main parts A, A', the first and second relays 22a, 22b generate heat, but the hollow ducts 32 are provided in the current-carrying busbars 26 connecting the first and second relays 22a, 22b, and a refrigerant flow path 76 is formed through which the refrigerant flows, including the hollow ducts 32. By allowing the refrigerant to flow through the current-carrying busbars 26 in this manner, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the current-carrying busbars 26 from rising, and it is also possible to eliminate heat generated in the first and second relays 22a, 22b.
[0056] Furthermore, because the refrigerant flow path 76 is configured to include each hollow pipe 32 provided inside the current-carrying bus bar 26, it is possible to avoid an increase in size of the current-carrying bus bar 26 and, ultimately, the circuit assembly 10, compared to a case in which the refrigerant flow path is provided outside the current-carrying bus bar 26. In particular, because a cooling structure can be realized using the current-carrying bus bar 26, there is no need to provide a separate structure for heat dissipation or the like, and this provides the effects of simplifying the structure and improving work efficiency, etc.
[0057] The current-carrying busbar 26 has first and second connecting pipes 60, 62, and the first opening 28, which is one opening of each hollow pipe 32, is connected to the refrigerant supply pipe 36 via the first connecting pipe 60, and the second opening 30, which is the other opening of each hollow pipe 32, is connected to the refrigerant return pipe 38 via the second connecting pipe 62. In other words, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38, which are made of rubber tubes, are not directly connected to the current-carrying busbar 26, but are connected to the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62, which are tubular. This makes it easy to connect the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 to each hollow pipe 32, and also ensures stable liquid-tightness in the refrigerant flow path 76.
[0058] Furthermore, the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 protrude forward from the busbar body 51, and front openings in the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 form first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70, respectively. That is, the refrigerant that has flowed from each hollow pipe 32 into each inner hole 66 of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 is prevented from flowing rearward of each hollow pipe 32, and the risk of the refrigerant stagnation in portions of the inner holes 66 of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 rearward of each hollow pipe 32 can be reduced.
[0059] The busbar body 51 of the current-carrying busbar 26 has a central region 56 in the center in the width direction and a pair of side regions 58, 58 on both sides in the width direction. The central region 56 is solid in the portions other than the bolt insertion holes 52 and is formed with a constant cross-sectional shape over the entire length of the busbar body 51 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction), and each side region 58 is provided with a plurality of hollow conduits 32 extending over the entire length of the busbar body 51 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the busbar body 51 extends in the left-right direction with a substantially constant cross-sectional shape over the portions other than the bolt insertion holes 52, and the busbar body 51 can be easily manufactured by forming the bolt insertion holes 52 after extrusion molding.
[0060] The bolt fastening portions 54 (first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b) of the current-carrying busbar 26 are directly bolted to the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c of the first and second relays 22a, 22b. This allows the current-carrying busbar 26, which realizes cooling, to come into direct contact with the first and second relays 22a, 22b, which are heat-generating components, improving cooling efficiency. In addition, no other members are used to connect the current-carrying busbar 26 to the first and second relays 22a, 22b, and an increase in the number of components can be avoided.
[0061] In particular, the first and second relays 22a, 22b are disposed adjacent to each other, and the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b of the energizing busbar 26 are directly bolt-fastened to the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c of the first and second relays 22a, 22b. This makes it possible to keep the length of the energizing busbar 26 small, and to connect the first and second relays 22a, 22b over a short distance, thereby improving the energization efficiency.
[0062] The first and second relays 22a, 22b are disposed facing upward, the connection parts 24 of the first and second relays 22a, 22b are open to the top surfaces 41 of the first and second relays 22a, 22b, and the energizing busbars 26 are placed on the top surfaces 41 of the first and second relays 22a, 22b. This allows the vertical dimensions of the first and second relays 22a, 22b to be secured, and the vertical dimensions can be utilized to arrange the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38, for example, by bending them downward. By forming the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 from an elastically deformable material such as rubber, the tolerance between the energizing busbars 26 and the refrigerant source 34 can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38. In particular, by providing bent portions in advance in the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38, the bent portions are preferentially elastically deformed, so that the tolerance absorption effect due to elastic deformation can be more stably exerted.
[0063] <Embodiment 2> Next, a circuit configuration 110 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The circuit configuration 110 according to the second embodiment has a basic structure similar to that of the circuit configuration 10 according to the first embodiment, but differs in that the first and second relays 22a, 22b are arranged facing upward in the circuit configuration 10 according to the first embodiment, whereas the first and second relays 112a, 112b are arranged facing forward in the circuit configuration 10 according to the second embodiment. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be described, and detailed description of members and parts substantially the same as those in the first embodiment will be omitted by assigning the same reference numerals in the drawings as those in the first embodiment.
[0064] It should be noted that the circuit structure 110 shown in FIG. 8 also shows the essential parts A, A' of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 2, and the inside of the case 78 of the circuit structure 110 can accommodate, in addition to the first and second relays 112a, 112b and energizing bus bar 26 constituting the essential part A, the first and second relays 112a, 112b and energizing bus bar 26 constituting the essential part A', the fuse 16, the pre-charge relay 18, the pre-charge resistor 20, etc.
[0065] <First and second relays 112a, 112b> As described above, in the second embodiment, the first and second relays 112a and 112b are disposed facing forward. That is, the first positive and negative connection parts 24a and 24b of the first relay 112a and the second positive and negative connection parts 24c and 24d of the second relay 112b are both open to the front surface 114 of the first and second relays 112a and 112b. The first negative connection part 24b and the second positive connection part 24c, which are separated from each other in the left-right direction, are electrically connected in series by the current-carrying bus bar 26.
[0066] In the second embodiment, the structure of the current-carrying busbar 26 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52 (i.e., first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b) are provided on both the left and right sides of the busbar body 51, and first and second connection pipe bodies 60, 62 are connected to both the left and right ends of the busbar body 51, respectively. In short, in the second embodiment, both the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c open forward, and each of the bolt insertion holes 52 in the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b open in the vertical direction. As a result, the opening direction of the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c and the opening direction of each of the bolt insertion holes 52 in the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b are mutually perpendicular.
[0067] <Connection fitting 118> The negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c are connected to the first and second bolt fastening portions 54b by connecting fittings 118 bent into an L shape. That is, each connecting fitting 118 includes an upper fitting 120 and a lower fitting 122 each having a substantially rectangular plate shape, and the upper fitting 120 and the lower fitting 122 are connected by a bent portion 124. Furthermore, each of the upper fittings 120 and each of the lower fittings 122 has a bolt insertion hole (not shown) that penetrates through in the plate thickness direction, i.e., each connecting fitting 118 has a bolt insertion hole at both ends in the length direction.
[0068] Then, the upper fittings 120 of each connecting fitting 118 are overlapped from the front with respect to the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c, so that the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c are aligned with the bolt insertion holes of each upper fitting 120. Bolts 126 are inserted into these bolt insertion holes and fastened to the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c, so that the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c are bolt-fastened to each upper fitting 120.
[0069] In the second embodiment, a pair of nut accommodating portions 128, 128 that protrude upward from the bottom wall portion 90 are provided at a distance in the left-right direction in the front portion of the lower case 82, and a nut (not shown) is accommodated in the upper end of each nut accommodating portion 128. The current-carrying bus bar 26 is placed from above on each of the nut accommodating portions 128, and the lower fittings 122 of each connecting fitting 118 are overlapped from above on the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b of the current-carrying bus bar 26.
[0070] As a result, the bolt insertion holes in the lower fittings 122, the bolt insertion holes 52 in the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b, and the nuts in the nut accommodating portions 128 are aligned with one another. A bolt 130 is inserted through the bolt insertion holes in the lower fittings 122 and the bolt insertion holes 52 in the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b and fastened to the nuts in the nut accommodating portions 128, thereby fastening the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b and the lower fittings 122 with bolts. As a result, the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c are connected to the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b via the connecting fittings 118 by bolt fastening.
[0071] In the circuit assembly 110 of the second embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, heat generated in association with the passage of current through the first and second relays 112a, 112b is transferred to the current-carrying bus bar 26 via the connecting fittings 118, but the heat generated in the first and second relays 112a, 112b is eliminated by the cooling effect caused by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 76 including the hollow pipes 32 provided in the current-carrying bus bar 26. Therefore, the circuit assembly 110 of the second embodiment can also achieve the same effects as the circuit assembly 10 of the first embodiment.
[0072] In particular, in the second embodiment, the first and second relays 112a, 112b are disposed facing forward, so that the vertical dimensions of the first and second relays 112a, 112b and the circuit assembly 110 can be kept small. In the first embodiment, the energizing busbar 26 is placed on the top surface 41 of each of the first and second relays 22a, 22b, and the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 connected to the energizing busbar 26 are bent downward, but in the second embodiment, the energizing busbar 26 is placed on each of the nut accommodating portions 128 in the lower case 82, and the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 extend straight forward without being bent in the vertical direction. This prevents the refrigerant from flowing in the vertical direction in the refrigerant flow path 76, and improves the flow efficiency of the refrigerant.
[0073] <Other embodiments> The technology described in this specification is not limited to the embodiments described in the above description and drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the technology described in this specification.
[0074] (1) As described above, the circuit configurations 10, 110 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 8 illustrate a state in which the first relay 22a, 112a and the second relay 22b, 112b, and the energizing bus bar 26 in the main part A in FIG. 2 are accommodated in the case 78. In addition to these, the case 78 can also accommodate the first relay 22a, 112a and the second relay 22b, 112b, the energizing bus bar 26, the fuse 16, the pre-charge relay 18, the pre-charge resistor 20, etc. in the main part A'.
[0075] The electric circuit diagram shown in FIG. 2 is merely a specific example of an electric circuit to which the circuit configuration of the present disclosure is applied, and the case constituting the circuit configuration may house conventionally known electric components and the like in an appropriate connection manner. Therefore, in the above embodiment, the connection portion of the heat generating component (the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b of the first relay 22a, 112a or the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c of the second relay 22b, 112b) is directly or indirectly connected to any of the bolt fastening portions 54 (the first bolt fastening portion 54a and the second bolt fastening portion 54b) of the current-carrying busbar 26, but this is not limited to this embodiment. That is, it is sufficient that the connection portion of the heat generating component is connected to the bolt fastening portion provided on at least one end side of the current-carrying busbar, and, for example, another current-carrying busbar or the like may be connected to the other end side of the current-carrying busbar. The shape of the case constituting the circuit configuration according to the present disclosure may be appropriately changed according to the electric components and the like housed therein.
[0076] (2) In the above embodiment, insulating refrigerants such as "Fluorinert (registered trademark)" and "Novec (registered trademark)" were used as examples of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 76. However, it is also possible to use a refrigerant having electrical conductivity by providing an insulating coating or film on the inner surface of the hollow conduit provided in the current-carrying bus bar, and water, for example, may be used as the refrigerant.
[0077] (3) In the above embodiment, five hollow ducts 32 each having a substantially rectangular shape are provided in each side region 58 of the busbar body 51, but this is not limited to the above. The cross-sectional shape of the hollow ducts may be circular (including oval, ellipse, semicircle, etc.), triangular, or polygonal with pentagons or more. The number of hollow ducts in each side region is also not limited, and may be one to four, or six or more. Note that hollow ducts do not need to be provided in both the front and rear side regions of the busbar body, and may be provided in only one side region in the front-rear direction.
[0078] (4) In the above embodiment, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are each made of rubber tubes and are elastically deformable. However, they may be made of, for example, a hard material.
[0079] (5) In the above embodiment, the first relay 22a, 112a and the second relay 22b, 112b are exemplified as heat generating components, but the present invention is not limited to this. Conventionally known heat generating components such as fuses may be used as the heat generating components. [Explanation of symbols]
[0080] 10 Circuit structure (embodiment 1) 12 Power supply 14 Load 16. Fuse 18 Precharge Relay 20 Precharge resistor 22 Relay (heat generating component) 22a 1st Relay 22b 2nd Relay 24 Connection 24a Positive electrode first connection part 24b Negative electrode first connection part 24c Positive side second connection part 24d Negative side second connection part 26 Current carrying busbar 28 First Opening 30 Second Opening 32 Hollow pipe 34 Refrigerant source 36 Refrigerant supply pipe 38 Refrigerant return line 40 Relay body 41 Top 42 Volts 43 Precharge Circuit 44 Partition 46 Legs 48 Bolt insertion hole 50 Volts 51 Busbar body 52 Bolt insertion hole 54 Bolt fastening section 54a First bolt fastening section 54b Second bolt fastening part 56 Central area 58 Lateral area 60 First connecting pipe 62 Second connecting pipe body 64 Peripheral wall 66 Inner Hole 68 1st pipeline connection port 70 2nd pipeline connection port 72 Through hole 74 Inner Hole 76 Refrigerant distribution route 78 cases 80 Upper Case 82 Lower case 84 Upper bottom wall 86 Upper peripheral wall 88 Pipe insertion part 90 Bottom wall 92 Lower peripheral wall 94 Relay mounting section 96 Pipe support part 97 Lower assembly 98 Capacitor 100 Inverter 110 Circuit structure (embodiment 2) 112a 1st Relay 112b 2nd Relay 114 Front 118 Connection fittings 120 Upper bracket 122 Lower bracket 124 Bent part 126 volts 128 Nut receiving part 130 Volts A,A' Main part
Claims
1. A heat generating component; a current-carrying bus bar connected to the connection portion of the heat generating component, the current-carrying busbar has a bolt fastening portion having a bolt insertion hole, and a hollow duct extending through the inside of the current-carrying busbar and including a first opening opening at one end in a longitudinal direction of the current-carrying busbar and a second opening opening at the other end, the current-carrying busbar further includes a first connection pipe that is fluid-tightly connected to the one end of the current-carrying busbar and surrounds the first opening to communicate with the first opening, and a second connection pipe that is fluid-tightly connected to the other end of the current-carrying busbar and surrounds the second opening to communicate with the second opening, the first connecting pipe has a first pipe connection port that can be connected to an external refrigerant source; The second connecting pipe has a second pipe connection port connectable to the refrigerant source.
2. the first pipe connection port of the first connection pipe body protrudes and opens to a side of the current-carrying bus bar, and a refrigerant supply pipe for supplying a refrigerant from the refrigerant source is connected to the first pipe connection port, 2. The circuit structure according to claim 1, wherein the second pipe connection port of the second connecting pipe protrudes and opens to a side of the current-carrying bus bar, and a refrigerant return pipe that returns the refrigerant to the refrigerant source is connected to the second pipe connection port.
3. the current-carrying busbar includes a central region extending at a central portion in a width direction by a predetermined width, and a pair of side regions extending at predetermined widths on both sides in the width direction of the central region, The central region is formed solidly over the entire length in the longitudinal direction except for the bolt insertion holes, 3. The circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the hollow duct is provided penetrating in the longitudinal direction in at least one of the side regions.
4. 3. The circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying bus bar is directly bolted to the connection portion of the heat generating component.
5. the bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying bus bar includes a first bolt fastening portion provided on the one end side and a second bolt fastening portion provided on the other end side, 3. The circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first bolt fastening portion and the second bolt fastening portion are directly bolted to the connection portions of a pair of the heat generating components that are adjacently arranged.
6. the connection portions of the pair of adjacently disposed heat generating components are provided so as to open on a top surface of each of the heat generating components, The circuit assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the current-carrying bus bar is placed on the top surfaces of the pair of heat-generating components.
7. 3. The circuit structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an opening direction of the connection portion of the heat-generating component and an opening direction of the bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying bus bar are perpendicular to each other, and the connection portion and the bolt fastening portion are connected by fastening both ends of a connecting fitting bent into an L shape to the connection portion and the bolt fastening portion with a bolt.