Power distribution device

Abstract

To disclose a highly versatile power distribution device that is easily changed according to the number of battery packs to be mounted.SOLUTION: A power distribution device 10 includes a basic circuit unit 20 and a branch circuit unit 36. The basic circuit unit includes a relay 14, a current sensor 16, and a basic circuit 18 in which the relay 14 and the current sensor 16 are connected, and the basic circuit 18 includes an input part 24 connected to a terminal unit 22 of a battery pack 12, a first output unit 26, and a second output part 28. The branch circuit unit includes: a branch input unit 30 connected to at least one of a first output unit 26 and a second output unit 28 of the basic circuit unit 20 and a plurality of branch output units 34 connected to the branch input unit 30 via a fuse 32. The basic circuit unit 20 is arranged in the number corresponding to the number of battery packs 12 to be mounted. A first output section 26 of one of a plurality of basic circuit units 20 arranged adjacent to each other is connected to a second output unit 28 of the other of the plurality of basic circuit units 20 and a plurality of battery packs 12 are conductively connected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power distribution device that is connected to a battery pack. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 shows a structure in which a junction box serving as a power distribution device is housed inside the housing of a battery pack to be mounted on a vehicle, and the power of the battery pack is distributed to on-board loads via the power distribution device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-243449 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since the battery capacity required for a vehicle varies depending on the vehicle model, and the number of battery packs installed in a vehicle varies depending on the vehicle model, it was necessary to design a power distribution device connected to the battery packs specifically for the number of battery packs. As a result, a different power distribution device was required for each vehicle, which inevitably led to a problem of increased costs.

[0005] Therefore, a highly versatile power distribution device that can be easily modified according to the number of battery packs installed is disclosed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The power distribution device disclosed herein comprises a basic circuit unit including a relay, a current sensor, and a basic circuit to which the relay and the current sensor are connected, the basic circuit having an input portion connected to a terminal portion of a battery pack, a first output portion, and a second output portion, and a branch circuit unit having a branch input portion connected to at least one of the first output portion and the second output portion of the basic circuit unit, and a plurality of branch output portions each connected to the branch input portion via a fuse, the basic circuit units being arranged in a number corresponding to the number of battery packs mounted on a vehicle, and when a plurality of the basic circuit units are adopted corresponding to a plurality of the battery packs, the first output portion of one of the adjacent basic circuit units is connected to the second output portion of the other of the basic circuit units, so that the plurality of battery packs are conductively connected. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a highly versatile power distribution device that can be easily modified according to the number of battery packs to be mounted. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a power distribution device according to a first embodiment with four battery packs attached thereto. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the power distribution device shown in FIG. 1 with the cover removed. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the power distribution device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the power distribution device shown in FIG. 2 with its main components extracted. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the power distribution device shown in FIG. 2 with the members constituting the electric circuit extracted. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the power distribution device shown in FIG. 2 with members for supporting electric circuits removed. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a first basic circuit unit which is one of the basic circuit units constituting the power distribution device shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a second basic circuit unit which is another basic circuit unit constituting the power distribution device shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a circuit support constituting a basic circuit unit in the power distribution device shown in FIG. 2, with a current sensor and a relay attached thereto. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view of the circuit support shown in FIG. 9 without the current sensor and relay attached. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view, seen from the top side, showing a branch circuit unit constituting the power distribution device shown in FIG. [Figure 12] 12 is a perspective view of the branch circuit unit shown in FIG. 11, seen from the bottom side. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the power distribution device shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the power distribution device according to the first embodiment with two battery packs attached. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the power distribution device shown in FIG. 14 with the cover removed. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a plan view of the power distribution device shown in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the power distribution device shown in FIG. 15 with its main components extracted. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the power distribution device shown in FIG. 15 with the members constituting the electric circuit extracted. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the power distribution device shown in FIG. 15 with the members supporting the electric circuits removed. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a circuit diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the power distribution device shown in FIG. 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 power distribution device of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A vehicle battery pack comprising: a basic circuit unit including a relay, a current sensor, and a basic circuit to which the relay and the current sensor are connected, the basic circuit having an input portion connected to a terminal portion of a battery pack, a first output portion, and a second output portion; and a branch circuit unit having a branch input portion connected to at least one of the first output portion and the second output portion of the basic circuit unit, and a plurality of branch output portions each connected to the branch input portion via a fuse, the basic circuit units being arranged in a number corresponding to the number of battery packs mounted on a vehicle, and when a plurality of the basic circuit units are adopted corresponding to a plurality of the battery packs, the first output portion of one of the adjacent basic circuit units is connected to the second output portion of the other of the basic circuit units, so that the plurality of battery packs are conductively connected.

[0010] According to the power distribution device of the present disclosure, a basic circuit unit including a relay, a current sensor, and a basic circuit (having an input section connected to a battery pack, and a first / second output section) is configured. The basic circuit units are arranged in a number corresponding to the number of battery packs mounted on a vehicle, and the input section of each basic circuit unit is connected to a terminal section of each battery pack. When a plurality of battery packs are mounted on a vehicle, the plurality of battery packs can be electrically connected by connecting a first output section of one adjacently arranged basic circuit unit to a second output section of the other basic circuit unit. Furthermore, a branch circuit unit is connected to at least one of the first output section and the second output section of the basic circuit unit, and power of one or a plurality of connected battery packs can be distributed to the plurality of branch output sections of the branch circuit unit. According to the power distribution device having such a structure, it is only necessary to increase or decrease the number of basic circuit units in accordance with the number of battery packs mounted on a vehicle, and when a plurality of basic circuit units are employed, a power distribution device in which the number of basic circuit units is changed in accordance with the number of battery packs mounted can be configured by simply connecting their output sections to each other. This makes it possible to provide a highly versatile power distribution device that can be easily modified according to the number of battery packs installed.

[0011] (2) In the above (1), it is preferable that the basic circuit unit includes an insulating circuit support, the current sensor is mounted to a current sensor mounting portion provided on one end of the circuit support, and the relay is mounted to a relay mounting portion provided on the other end of the circuit support, and the basic circuit is configured to include a plurality of bus bars each having the input portion, the first output portion, and the second output portion at each end, and is assembled to the circuit support.

[0012] The relay, current sensor, and multiple bus bars constituting the basic circuit unit are held by an insulating circuit support, which improves the ease of handling and holding of the basic circuit unit and also improves the ease of connecting the basic circuit units to each other. In addition, since the basic circuit includes multiple bus bars each having an input section, a first output section, and a second output section at each end, the bus bars can be appropriately changed in shape to correspond to the connection configuration (series / parallel) of the battery pack, thereby further improving versatility.

[0013] (3) In the above (2), it is preferable that the basic circuit has a metal housing that houses the basic circuit unit and the branch circuit unit, and the bus bar connected to the relay has a heat dissipation contact part that is in thermal contact with the housing via an insulating member. Of the multiple bus bars that make up the basic circuit, the bus bar connected to the relay, which is a heat-generating component, has a heat dissipation contact part, and the heat dissipation contact part is in thermal contact with the metal housing that houses the basic circuit unit and the branch circuit unit. This allows the heat of the relay to be quickly transferred to the metal housing, and the heat dissipation of the relay can be improved with space efficiency.

[0014] (4) In the above (2) or (3), it is preferable to provide an insulating terminal block arranged between the circuit supports of the adjacently arranged basic circuit units, and the terminal block holds and connects one of the basic circuit units to the other basic circuit unit. By arranging the terminal block between the adjacently arranged basic circuit units, it is possible to advantageously adjust the positions of the basic circuit units to enable connection to a plurality of battery packs. Furthermore, by holding the basic circuit units to be connected to each other in the terminal block, it is possible to stably connect them with good workability. Furthermore, it is possible to change the orientation of each output part of the bus bar so that it can be connected by utilizing the space of the terminal block, which improves the design freedom of the bus bar and improves the assembly workability.

[0015] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Specific examples of the power distribution device 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.

[0016] <Embodiment 1> The power distribution device 10, 10' according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 20. The power distribution device 10, 10' according to the first embodiment is mounted on, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and is connected to a plurality of battery packs 12 to distribute power from each battery pack 12 to a plurality of loads (for example, auxiliary machines, first to fourth loads 66a to 66d, which will be described later). Although the power distribution device 10, 10' can be placed in any orientation, the up-down direction, left-right direction, and front-rear direction will be described below as the up-down direction, left-right direction, and front-rear direction shown in the drawings. In addition, for a plurality of identical members, only some of the members may be labeled with reference numerals, and the reference numerals may be omitted for the other members.

[0017] <Power distribution equipment 10,10'> The power distribution apparatus 10, 10' includes a basic circuit unit 20 or a basic circuit unit 150, which will be described later, including a relay 14 (first to fourth relays 14a to 14d described later), a current sensor 16 (first to fourth current sensors 16a to 16d), and a basic circuit 18 to which the relay 14 and the current sensor 16 are connected. The basic circuit 18 has an input section 24 connected to a terminal section 22 of the battery pack 12, a first output section 26, and a second output section 28. The power distribution apparatus 10, 10' also includes a branch circuit unit 36 ​​having a branch input section 30 connected to at least one of the first output section 26 and the second output section 28 of the basic circuit unit 20, and a plurality of branch outputs 34 connected to the branch input section 30 via fuses 32, respectively.

[0018] In the power distribution apparatus 10, 10' of the present disclosure, the number of basic circuit units 20 can be changed according to the number of battery packs 12. Figs. 1 to 13 show an example in which four battery packs 12 (first battery pack 12a to fourth battery pack 12d) are connected to the power distribution apparatus 10, and Figs. 14 to 20 show an example in which two battery packs 12 (first and second battery packs 12a, 12b) are connected to the power distribution apparatus 10'. As shown in Fig. 1, the battery packs 12 connected to the power distribution apparatus 10 are the right rear battery pack 12, the left rear battery pack 12, the right front battery pack 12, and the left front battery pack 12, respectively, as the first battery pack 12a, the second battery pack 12b, the third battery pack 12c, and the fourth battery pack 12d. 14, the battery packs 12 connected to the power distribution device 10' are the first battery pack 12a on the right side and the second battery pack 12b on the left side. Since known battery packs are used for each battery pack 12, a description of the internal structure will be omitted.

[0019] That is, in the power distribution device 10 shown in Fig. 1 etc., the battery packs 12a to 12d are provided on both the left and right sides of the power distribution device 10, and are provided at a predetermined distance apart in the front-rear direction. The power distribution device 10 and the battery packs 12a to 12d are placed on a support plate 38 having a substantially rectangular flat shape, and are fixed thereto by, for example, bolts. Similarly, in the power distribution device 10' shown in Fig. 14 etc., the battery packs 12a, 12b are provided on both the left and right sides of the power distribution device 10'. The power distribution device 10' and the battery packs 12a, 12b are placed on a support plate 38' having a substantially rectangular flat shape, and are fixed thereto by, for example, bolts.

[0020] The power distribution device 10 is provided with four basic circuit units 20 (first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d) corresponding to the four battery packs 12 (first to fourth battery packs 12a to 12d). For convenience, the basic circuit units 20 provided in the power distribution device 10 are referred to as, from the front, the fourth basic circuit unit 20d, the third basic circuit unit 20c, the first basic circuit unit 20a, and the second basic circuit unit 20b. Note that the relays 14 (first to fourth relays 14a to 14d) and the current sensors 16a (first to fourth current sensors 16a to 16b) provided in the basic circuit units 20a to 20d are not necessarily connected to the corresponding battery packs 12 (first to fourth battery packs 12a to 12d).

[0021] <Electrical configuration of power distribution device 10> First, the electrical configuration of the power distribution device 10 will be described with reference to Figures 4, 5, 13, etc. The power distribution device 10 includes a first positive electrode side input unit 40a to which the positive electrode side of the first battery pack 12a is connected, and a first negative electrode side input unit 40b to which the negative electrode side of the first battery pack 12b is connected. Similarly, the power distribution device 10 includes second to fourth positive electrode side input units 42a, 44a, 46a to which the positive electrode sides of the second to fourth battery packs 12b to 12d are connected, and second to fourth negative electrode side input units 42b, 44b, 46b to which the negative electrode sides of the second to fourth battery packs 12b to 12d are connected. The first positive and negative input sections 40a, 40b form a first input section 47a, and similarly, the second positive and negative input sections 42a, 42b form a second input section 47b, the third positive and negative input sections 44a, 44b form a third input section 47c, and the fourth positive and negative input sections 46a, 46b form a fourth input section 47d.

[0022] As described above, the power distribution device 10 includes four basic circuit units 20 (first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d), and therefore includes four relays 14 (first to fourth relays 14a to 14d) and four current sensors 16 (first to fourth current sensors 16a to 16d). The first to fourth positive lines 48a to 48d extend from the positive input units 40a, 42a, 44a, and 46a, respectively, and the first to fourth relays 14a to 14d are connected to the positive lines 48a to 48d, respectively. In addition, the positive lines 48a to 48d are connected in parallel to the positive connection line 52a on the downstream side of the relays 14a to 14d. The downstream of the positive electrode side connection line 52a is divided into four, and first to fourth positive electrode side branch output parts 54a, 56a, 58a, and 60a are respectively configured via the fuses 32 described above.

[0023] Similarly, first to fourth negative electrode lines 62a to 62d extend from the negative electrode input parts 40b, 42b, 44b, and 46b, respectively. The first negative electrode line 62a is connected to the second current sensor 16b in the second basic circuit unit 20b, and the second negative electrode line 62b is connected to the first current sensor 16a in the first basic circuit unit 20a. The third negative electrode line 62c is connected to the fourth current sensor 16d in the fourth basic circuit unit 62d, and the fourth negative electrode line 62d is connected to the third current sensor 16c in the third basic circuit unit 62c. In addition, the negative electrode lines 62a to 62d are connected in parallel to the negative electrode connection line 52b on the downstream side of the current sensors 16a to 16d. The downstream of the negative electrode side connection line 52b is divided into four parts, which constitute first to fourth negative electrode side branch output parts 54b, 56b, 58b, and 60b, respectively.

[0024] The first positive and negative branch output parts 54a and 54b constitute a first load branch output part 64a, and a first load 66a is connected to the first load branch output part 64a, as shown by a two-dot chain line in Fig. 13. Similarly, the second positive and negative branch output parts 56a and 56b constitute a second load branch output part 64b, and a second load 66b is connected to the second load branch output part 64b, the third positive and negative branch output parts 58a and 58b constitute a third load branch output part 64c, and a third load 66c is connected to the third load, and the fourth positive and negative branch output parts 60a and 60b constitute a fourth load branch output part 64d, and a fourth load 66d is connected to the fourth load. With such an electrical circuit configuration, in the power distribution device 10 shown in FIG. 1 etc., the four battery packs 12a to 12d are connected in parallel, and the power obtained from each of the battery packs 12a to 12d is distributed to the first to fourth loads 66a to 66d.

[0025] Although the voltage of each of the battery packs 12a to 12d connected to the power distribution device 10 is not limited, each of the battery packs 12a to 12d may be, for example, a known 48V battery. Also, each of the relays 14a to 14d may be a known mechanical relay. As described above, the fourth basic circuit unit 20d, the third basic circuit unit 20c, the first basic circuit unit 20a, and the second basic circuit unit 20b are provided in the power distribution device 10 in this order from the front, and therefore the relays 14a to 14d provided in the power distribution device 10 are, in this order from the front, the fourth relay 14d, the third relay 14c, the first relay 14a, and the second relay 14b.

[0026] <Busbar 68> Here, in the electric circuit in the power distribution device 10, the first to fourth positive electrode lines 48a to 48d, the first to fourth negative electrode lines 62a to 62d, the positive electrode side and negative electrode side connection lines 52a, 52b, etc. may be made of conductive members. These may be made of electric wires, etc., but in the first embodiment, they are made of a plurality of bus bars 68 (bus bars 68a to 68j below). The connections between the bus bars 68, between the bus bars 68 and the relays 14a to 14d, and between the bus bars 68 and the current sensors 16a to 16d can be made, for example, by inserting bolts (not shown) into bolt insertion holes provided at the ends of the bus bars 68 and fastening them.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, the power distribution device 10 has a first positive electrode side input section 40a connected to the first battery pack 12a, and includes a bus bar 68a electrically connected to the first relay 14a. In other words, one end of the bus bar 68a constitutes the first positive electrode side input section 40a, and the other end of the bus bar 68a constitutes a connection section to the first relay 14a. As shown in Fig. 7, the first basic circuit unit 20a, which is one of the basic circuit units 20, includes a bus bar 68a, and one end of the bus bar 68a constitutes the first positive electrode side input section 40a as the input section 24 connected to the terminal section 22 of the first battery pack 12a. One end of the bus bar 68a (the first positive electrode side input section 40a) protrudes to the right of the first basic circuit unit 20a, which is the first relay 14a side. The other end of the bus bar 68a is placed over a terminal portion 70 protruding from a body portion 69 of the first relay 14a and fastened with a bolt, so as to be electrically connected to the first relay 14a.

[0028] A bus bar 68b is connected to the downstream side of the first relay 14a. That is, the bus bar 68b is provided in the first basic circuit unit 20a, and constitutes the positive electrode side connection line 52a or is a bus bar connected to the positive electrode side connection line 52a. One end (front end) of the bus bar 68b constitutes the first output section 26 (positive side first output section 26a) in the first basic circuit unit 20a, and the other end (rear end) of the bus bar 68b constitutes the second output section 28 (positive side second output section 28a) in the first basic circuit unit 20a. The other end (positive side second output section 28a) of the bus bar 68b is overlapped with a terminal section 70 protruding from a main body section 69 of the first relay 14a. The bus bar 68b extends generally in the front-to-rear direction below the first basic circuit unit 20a, with one end of the bus bar 68b (first positive side output portion 26a) protruding forward and the other end of the bus bar 68b (second positive side output portion 26b) exposed to the outside (to the right) in the rear portion of the first basic circuit unit 20a.

[0029] Further, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, the power distribution device 10 has a second positive electrode side input section 42a connected to the second battery pack 12b, and includes a bus bar 68c electrically connected to the second relay 14b. In other words, one end of the bus bar 68c constitutes the second positive electrode side input section 42a, and the other end of the bus bar 68c constitutes a connection section to the second relay 14b. As shown in Fig. 8, the second basic circuit unit 20b, which is another one of the basic circuit units 20, includes a bus bar 68c, and one end of the bus bar 68c constitutes a second positive electrode side input section 42a as an input section 24 connected to the terminal section 22 of the second battery pack 12b. One end of the bus bar 68c (the second positive electrode side input section 42a) protrudes leftward on the second relay 14b side in the second basic circuit unit 20b. The other end of the bus bar 68c is placed over a terminal portion 70 protruding from a body portion 69 of the second relay 14b and fastened with a bolt, so as to be electrically connected to the second relay 14b.

[0030] A bus bar 68d is connected to the downstream side of the second relay 14b. That is, the bus bar 68d is provided in the second basic circuit unit 20b, and constitutes the positive electrode side connection line 52a or is a bus bar connected to the positive electrode side connection line 52a. One end (front end) of the bus bar 68d constitutes the first output section 26 (positive side first output section 26a) in the second basic circuit unit 20b, and one end of the bus bar 68e is connected to the other end (rear end) of the bus bar 68d. The other end of the bus bar 68e constitutes the second output section 28 (positive side second output section 28a) in the second basic circuit unit 20b. The other end of the bus bar 68d and one end of the bus bar 68e are overlapped with a terminal section 70 protruding from the main body section 69 of the second relay 14b, and can be electrically connected by bolt fastening.

[0031] The bus bar 68d generally extends in the front-rear direction below the second basic circuit unit 20b, with one end of the bus bar 68d (the first positive output portion 26a) protruding forward. The bus bar 68e generally extends in the up-down direction, with the other end (upper end) of the bus bar 68e constituting the second positive output portion 28a. Two bolt insertion holes 71, 71 are provided spaced apart from each other in the second positive output portion 28a of the bus bar 68e.

[0032] 3 and 5, the power distribution device 10 has a first negative electrode side input section 40b connected to the first battery pack 12a, and includes a bus bar 68f electrically connected to the second current sensor 16b. In other words, one end of the bus bar 68f constitutes the first negative electrode side input section 40b, and the other end of the bus bar 68f constitutes a connection section to the second current sensor 16b. As shown in FIG. 8, the second basic circuit unit 20b includes a bus bar 68f, and one end of the bus bar 68f constitutes the first negative electrode side input section 40b as the input section 24 connected to the terminal section 22 of the first battery pack 12a. One end of the bus bar 68f (the first negative electrode side input section 40b) protrudes to the right of the second basic circuit unit 20b, which is the first relay 14a side. The other end of the busbar 68f is electrically connected to the second current sensor 16b by being overlapped with and bolted to a terminal portion 73 protruding from a main body portion 72 of the second current sensor 16b.

[0033] A bus bar 68g is connected to the downstream side of the second current sensor 16b. That is, the bus bar 68g is provided in the second basic circuit unit 20b, and constitutes the negative electrode side connection line 52b or is a bus bar connected to the negative electrode side connection line 52b. One end (front end) of the bus bar 68g constitutes the first output section 26 (negative side first output section 26b) in the second basic circuit unit 20b, and the other end (rear end) of the bus bar 68g constitutes the second output section 28 (negative side second output section 28b) in the second basic circuit unit 20b. One end (negative side first output section 26b) of the bus bar 68g is overlapped with a terminal section 73 protruding from a main body section 72 of the second current sensor 16b.

[0034] The bus bar 68g extends generally in the front-rear direction on the left surface of the second basic circuit unit 20b, with one end (negative side first output portion 26b) of the bus bar 68g exposed to the outside (right) in the front part of the second basic circuit unit 20b and the other end (negative side second output portion 28b) of the bus bar 68g protruding rearward. Two bolt insertion holes 74, 74 are provided spaced apart from each other in the negative side second output portion 28b of the bus bar 68g.

[0035] Further, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, the power distribution device 10 has a second negative electrode side input section 42b connected to the second battery pack 12b, and includes a bus bar 68h electrically connected to the first current sensor 16a. In other words, one end of the bus bar 68h constitutes the second negative electrode side input section 42b, and the other end of the bus bar 68h constitutes a connection section to the first current sensor 16a. As shown in Fig. 7, the first basic circuit unit 20a includes a bus bar 68h, and one end of the bus bar 68h constitutes the second negative electrode side input section 42b as the input section 24 connected to the terminal section 22 of the second battery pack 12b. One end of the bus bar 68h (the second negative electrode side input section 42b) protrudes leftward on the second relay 14b side in the first basic circuit unit 20a. The other end of the bus bar 68h is placed over a terminal portion 73 protruding from a main body portion 72 of the first current sensor 16a and fastened with a bolt to be electrically connected to the first current sensor 16a. The bus bar 68h extends in the front-rear direction as a whole on the left surface of the first basic circuit unit 20a.

[0036] A bus bar 68i is connected to the downstream side of the first current sensor 16a. That is, the bus bar 68i is provided in the first basic circuit unit 20a, and constitutes the negative electrode side connection line 52b or is connected to the negative electrode side connection line 52b. The other end of the bus bar 68j is connected to one end (front end) of the bus bar 68i. The first output section 26 (negative side first output section 26b) in the first basic circuit unit 20a is constituted by one end of the bus bar 68j. The second output section 28 (negative side second output section 28b) in the first basic circuit unit 20a is constituted by the other end of the bus bar 68i. One end of the bus bar 68i and the other end of the bus bar 68j are overlapped with a terminal section 73 protruding from a main body section 72 of the first current sensor 16a.

[0037] In the first basic circuit unit 20a, the bus bar 68i generally extends in the front-rear direction, with the other end of the bus bar 68i (the second negative output portion 28b) protruding rearward. The bus bar 68j generally extends in the front-rear direction, with one end of the bus bar 68j (the first negative output portion 26a) protruding forward.

[0038] <Basic circuit unit 20 (first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d)> 7, the first basic circuit unit 20a includes a first relay 14a and a first current sensor 16a, bus bars 68a and 68b connected to the first relay 14a, and bus bars 68h, 68i, and 68j connected to the first current sensor 16a. Also, as shown in FIG 8, the second basic circuit unit 20b includes a second relay 14b and a second current sensor 16b, bus bars 68c, 68d, and 68e connected to the second relay 14b, and bus bars 68f and 68g connected to the second current sensor 16b.

[0039] The first basic circuit unit 20a and the second basic circuit unit 20b are connected in the front-rear direction as shown in Figs. 3 to 5. That is, the front part of the second basic circuit unit 20b is connected to the rear part of the first basic circuit unit 20a. Specifically, the positive side first output part 26a protruding forward at the front part of the second basic circuit unit 20b is overlapped with the positive side second output part 28a exposed to the outside (right side) at the rear part of the first basic circuit unit 20a, and they are electrically connected by bolt fastening. Similarly, the negative side first output part 26b exposed to the outside (right side) at the front part of the second basic circuit unit 20b is overlapped with the negative side second output part 28b protruding backward at the rear part of the first basic circuit unit 20a, and they are electrically connected by bolt fastening. In short, the second output section 28 consisting of the positive and negative side second output sections 28a, 28b in the rear part of the first basic circuit unit 20a and the first output section 26 consisting of the positive and negative side first output sections 26a, 26b in the front part of the second basic circuit unit 20b are connected to each other.

[0040] The third and fourth basic circuit units 20c and 20d have the same configuration as the first and second basic circuit units 20a and 20b, respectively. Specifically, the third basic circuit unit 20c has a shape in which the first basic circuit unit 20a is rotated 180° around a central axis extending in the vertical direction. That is, the third basic circuit unit 20c includes a third relay 14c and a third current sensor 16c, bus bars 68a and 68b connected to the third relay 14c, and bus bars 68h, 68i, and 68j connected to the third current sensor 16c. The fourth basic circuit unit 20d has a shape in which the second basic circuit unit 20b is rotated 180° around a central axis extending in the vertical direction. That is, the fourth basic circuit unit 20d includes a fourth relay 14d and a fourth current sensor 16d, bus bars 68c, 68d, and 68e connected to the fourth relay 14d, and bus bars 68f and 68g connected to the fourth current sensor 16d.

[0041] In addition, in these third and fourth basic circuit units 20c, 20d as well, the output section located in the front is the first output section 26, and the output section located in the rear is the second output section 28. In short, the configuration of the first output section 26 in the first basic circuit unit 20a constitutes the second output section 28 in the third basic circuit unit 20c, and the configuration of the second output section 28 in the first basic circuit unit 20a constitutes the first output section 26 in the third basic circuit unit 20a. Similarly, the configuration of the first output section 26 in the second basic circuit unit 20b constitutes the second output section 28 in the fourth basic circuit unit 20d, and the configuration of the second output section 28 in the second basic circuit unit 20b constitutes the first output section 26 in the fourth basic circuit unit 20d.

[0042] As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the third basic circuit unit 20c and the fourth basic circuit unit 20d are connected in the front-rear direction. That is, the front part of the third basic circuit unit 20c (i.e., the rear part of the first basic circuit unit 20a) is connected to the rear part of the fourth basic circuit unit 20d (i.e., the front part of the second basic circuit unit 20b). The connection between the third basic circuit unit 20c and the fourth basic circuit unit 20d is similar to the connection between the first basic circuit unit 20a and the second basic circuit unit 20b, so a description thereof will be omitted. The rear part of the third basic circuit unit 20c is connected to the front part of the first basic circuit unit 20a, and in short, the front parts of the first basic circuit units 20a are connected to each other in terms of shape.

[0043] Specifically, the positive second output section 28a protruding backward from the third basic circuit unit 20c and the positive first output section 26a protruding forward from the first basic circuit unit 20a are overlapped and connected to each other. Also, the negative second output section 28b protruding backward from the third basic circuit unit 20c and the negative first output section 26b protruding forward from the first basic circuit unit 20a are overlapped and connected to each other. In short, the second output section 28 in the third basic circuit unit 20c and the first output section 26 in the first basic circuit unit 20a are connected to each other. As a result, the first output section 26 and the second output section 28 are connected to each other in all of the first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d. In addition, the end shapes of the bus bars 68b, 68j that constitute the second output section 28 in the third basic circuit unit 20c and the end shapes of the bus bars 68b, 68j that constitute the first output section 26 in the first basic circuit unit 20a are made different from each other to make it easier to overlap each other.

[0044] <Terminal block 76> In the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6, the second output section 28 of the third basic circuit unit 20c and the first output section 26 of the first basic circuit unit 20a are held on and connected to a terminal block 76. That is, the power distribution device 10 includes the terminal block 76, and the terminal block 76 is disposed between the third basic circuit unit 20c and the first basic circuit unit 20a in the front-rear direction. The terminal block 76 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and has insulating properties.

[0045] The terminal block 76 has a pair of front openings 78, 78 into which the ends (the positive side second output portion 28a and the negative side second output portion 28b, respectively) of the bus bars 68b, 68j protruding rearward from the third basic circuit unit 20c are inserted. The terminal block 76 also has a pair of rear openings 80, 80 into which the ends (the positive side first output portion 26a and the negative side first output portion 26b, respectively) of the bus bars 68b, 68j protruding forward from the first basic circuit unit 20a are inserted. The positive side first and second output portions 26a, 28a and the negative side first and second output portions 26b, 28b inserted from the front and rear openings 78, 80 are overlapped at the center portion of the terminal block 76 in the front-rear direction and fixed to the terminal block 76 by bolts. This allows the third basic circuit unit 20c (and the fourth basic circuit unit 20d) to be electrically connected to the first basic circuit unit 20a (and the second basic circuit unit 20b).

[0046] <Circuit support 82> Each of the basic circuit units 20a to 20d includes an insulating circuit support 82. Although at least one shape of each of the circuit supports constituting each of the basic circuit units 20a to 20d may be different from the other circuit supports, in the first embodiment, each of the circuit supports 82 constituting each of the basic circuit units 20a to 20d has the same shape. The circuit support 82 is shown in Figures 9 and 10, and in particular, Figure 9 shows a state in which the relay 14 and the current sensor 16 are attached to the circuit support 82.

[0047] That is, the circuit support 82 has a current sensor mounting portion 84 at one end (the left end in Figure 10) and a relay mounting portion 86 at the other end (the right end in Figure 10), and the current sensor 16 is mounted to the current sensor mounting portion 84 and the relay 14 is mounted to the relay mounting portion 86.

[0048] Specifically, the circuit support 82 is generally in the shape of a rectangular plate, and is made of, for example, synthetic resin. In the circuit support 82, the current sensor mounting portion 84 and the relay mounting portion 86 are provided on both sides in the length direction (left and right direction in FIG. 10) on one surface in the thickness direction of the circuit support 82 (the surface on the front side of the paper in FIG. 10). The current sensor mounting portion 84 is configured to include a rectangular main body portion arrangement region 88 in which the main body portion 72 of the current sensor 16 is arranged, and terminal portion arrangement regions 90, 90 provided on both sides (upper and lower sides in FIG. 10) of the main body portion arrangement region 88 and in which the terminal portions 73 are arranged. In addition, the relay mounting portion 86 is configured to include a rectangular main body portion arrangement region 92 in which the main body portion 69 of the relay 14 is arranged, and terminal portion arrangement regions 94 provided on both sides (left and right sides in FIG. 10) of the main body portion arrangement region 92 and in which the terminal portions 70 are arranged. In each of these terminal portion arrangement regions 90, 94, a nut 96 is embedded.

[0049] Here, a plurality of openings 98 are provided on the outer periphery of the circuit support 82, and the internal spaces of the terminal portion arrangement regions 90 constituting the current sensor mounting portion 84 and the terminal portion arrangement regions 94 constituting the relay mounting portion 86 communicate with the external space through the respective openings 98. That is, the current sensor 16 or the relay 14 can be electrically connected to each bus bar 68 by inserting the end of each bus bar 68 into the circuit support 82 through each opening 98, overlapping the end of each bus bar 68 with the terminal portion 73 of the current sensor 16 or the terminal portion 70 of the relay 14 and fastening them with a bolt.

[0050] Specifically, the circuit support 82 is provided with two openings 98 that open upward in Fig. 10, one opening 98 communicating with the terminal portion arrangement region 90 in the upper part in Fig. 10, and the other opening 98 communicating with the terminal portion arrangement region 94 on the left side in Fig. 10. The circuit support 82 is also provided with one opening 98 each that opens to the left, downward, and right side in Fig. 10, and the opening 98 that opens to the left in Fig. 10 communicates with the terminal portion arrangement region 90 in the lower part in Fig. 10. The openings 98 that open downward and to the right in Fig. 10 each communicate with the terminal portion arrangement region 94 on the right side in Fig. 10.

[0051] The shape of the basic circuit unit 20 including each circuit support 82 is varied depending on the manner in which each bus bar 68 is inserted into each opening 98. In the first embodiment, first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d are formed by varying the manner in which each bus bar 68 is inserted into each opening 98. Note that the first basic circuit unit 20a and the third basic circuit unit 20c, and the second basic circuit unit 20b and the fourth basic circuit unit 20d have approximately the same shape, so that two types of units, the first basic circuit unit 20a and the second basic circuit unit 20b, are substantially formed.

[0052] 7, in the first basic circuit unit 20a (and the third basic circuit unit 20c), a bus bar 68a having an input portion 24 (first positive electrode side input portion 40a) at one end is inserted through an upper opening 98 and overlapped with a front terminal portion 70 of the first relay 14a. Also, a bus bar 68b having a first output portion 26 (positive side first output portion 26a) and a second output portion 28 (positive side second output portion 28a) at both ends is disposed below the circuit support 82, and the positive side second output portion 28a protruding upward is overlapped with the rear terminal portion 70 of the first relay 14a through the lower opening 98. Furthermore, a bus bar 68h having an input portion 24 (second negative-side input portion 42b) at one end is disposed to the left of the circuit support 82, and the other end protruding downward is overlapped with the upper terminal portion 73 of the first current sensor 16 through the upper opening 98. A bus bar 68i having a second output portion 28 (negative-side second output portion 28b) at the other end is disposed to the left of the circuit support 82, and one end folded back to the right is overlapped with the lower terminal portion 73 of the first current sensor 16 through the front opening 98. In particular, one end of this bus bar 68i is overlapped with the other end of the bus bar 68j, and each end of these bus bars 68i, 68j is overlapped with the lower terminal portion 73 of the first current sensor 16 through the front opening 98.

[0053] 8, in the second basic circuit unit 20b (and the fourth basic circuit unit 20d), a bus bar 68c having an input portion 24 (second positive input portion 42a) at one end is inserted through an upper opening 98 and overlapped with the front terminal portion 70 of the second relay 14b. A bus bar 68d having a first output portion 26 (positive side first output portion 26a) at one end is disposed below the circuit support 82, and the other end protruding upward is overlapped with the rear terminal portion 70 of the second relay 14b through the lower opening 98. One end of a bus bar 68e having a positive side second output portion 28a at the other end is overlapped with the other end of this bus bar 68d. Furthermore, a bus bar 68f having an input portion 24 (first negative electrode side input portion 40b) at one end is inserted through the upper opening 98 and overlapped with the upper terminal portion 73 of the second current sensor 16b. A bus bar 68g having a first output portion 26 (negative side first output portion 26b) and a second output portion 28 (negative side second output portion 28b) at both ends is disposed on the left side of the circuit support 82, and one end (negative side first output portion 26b) folded back to the right is overlapped with the lower terminal portion 73 of the second current sensor 16b through the front opening 98.

[0054] Therefore, in the first embodiment, each of the basic circuits 18 (first to fourth basic circuits 18a to 18d) includes a plurality of bus bars 68 each having at its end any one of the input portion 24, the first output portion 26, and the second output portion 28. Then, each of the first to fourth basic circuits 18a to 18d is assembled into a circuit support 82 having the same shape, thereby forming the first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d.

[0055] 4, when the first basic circuit unit 20a and the second basic circuit unit 20b are connected, the negative second output portion 28b protruding backward in the first basic circuit unit 20a is inserted into an opening 98 opening forward in the second basic circuit unit 20b and is overlapped with the lower terminal portion 73 of the second current sensor 16b together with the negative first output portion 26b in the second basic circuit unit 20b. As a result, the bus bar 68i in the first basic circuit unit 20a is connected to the bus bar 68g in the second basic circuit unit 20b, and the bus bar 68i in the first basic circuit unit 20a is connected to the bus bar 68i in the third basic circuit unit 20c via the respective bus bars 68j. As a result, the negative electrode side connection line 52b electrically connected over substantially the entire length of the first basic circuit unit 20a to the fourth basic circuit unit 20d is formed by the bus bars 68g, 68i, and 68j.

[0056] Moreover, the positive side first output part 26a protruding forward and bending upward in the second basic circuit unit 20b is inserted into an opening 98 opening downward in the first basic circuit unit 20a, and is overlapped with the rear terminal part 70 of the first relay 14a together with the positive side second output part 28a in the first basic circuit unit 20a. As a result, the bus bar 68b in the first basic circuit unit 20a is connected to the bus bar 68d in the second basic circuit unit 20b, and the bus bar 68b in the first basic circuit unit 20a is connected to the bus bar 68b in the third basic circuit unit 20c. As a result, the positive electrode side connection line 52a electrically connected over the entire length of the first basic circuit unit 20a to the fourth basic circuit unit 20d is constituted by the bus bars 68b, 68d.

[0057] In the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9 and the like, the circuit support 82 is provided with leg portions 100 that protrude outward in the thickness direction. A plurality of these leg portions 100 are provided on each circuit support 82, and in the first embodiment, the leg portions 100, 100 that protrude on both sides in the thickness direction of the circuit support 82 are provided at a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction on the circuit support 82, so that the circuit support 82 is provided with four leg portions 100. A bolt insertion hole 102 is formed in each leg portion 100, and each basic circuit unit 20a to 20d is fixed to a housing 130 (described later) by a bolt (not shown) that is inserted into each bolt insertion hole 102.

[0058] Further, at the upper end portion at one end portion in the length direction of the circuit support 82 (the right end portion in FIG. 10), there are provided a positioning recess 104 for positioning the branch circuit unit 36 ​​to be assembled to the basic circuit unit 20, and a nut 106 to which a bolt (not shown) is fastened for bolt-fixing the branch circuit unit 36 ​​to the basic circuit unit 20. In the first embodiment, the positioning recess 104 is a bottomed recess that opens upward, and the nut 106 is embedded in the vicinity of the positioning recess 104.

[0059] Furthermore, the circuit support 82 is provided with a pressing protrusion 108 protruding outward in the length direction on one end face in the length direction (the end face on the right side in FIG. 10). The pressing protrusion 108 is provided over the entire thickness direction of the circuit support 82, and is formed at a plurality of locations (three locations in the first embodiment) in the up-down direction. The protruding end face of each pressing protrusion 108 is configured with a curved surface. Each pressing protrusion 108 is provided between the opposing surfaces of each circuit support 82 when, for example, the first basic circuit unit 20a and the second basic circuit unit 20b are connected. Each pressing protrusion 108 comes into contact with the opposing wall surface of the circuit support 82, and the pressing protrusion 108 and the opposing wall surface of the circuit support 82 are elastically deformed, so that the tolerance between the first basic circuit unit 20a and the second basic circuit unit 20b can be absorbed, and the holding force of the assembled state of the first basic circuit unit 20a and the second basic circuit unit 20b can be improved.

[0060] <Branch circuit unit 36> 3 and 4, the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is adapted to be connected to the second and fourth basic circuit units 20b, 20d which are both ends in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) when the first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d are connected. The branch circuit units 36 connected to the second and fourth basic circuit units 20b, 20d have the same shape and are arranged rotated 180° around a central axis extending in the vertical direction.

[0061] As described above, the branch circuit unit 36 ​​includes the fuse 32, and in the first embodiment, a pair of fuses 32, 32 are supported on the fuse holder 110. Each fuse 32 extends in the same direction as the length direction (front-rear direction) of the first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d, and each fuse 32 includes a main body 112 and a pair of terminal portions 114, 114 protruding from the main body 112 on both sides in the front-rear direction. A bolt insertion hole 116 is formed in each terminal portion 114, and a nut 118 is embedded in the fuse holder 110 at a position corresponding to each bolt insertion hole 116.

[0062] 11, a bolt insertion hole 120 is formed between the nuts 118 located on the front side in the left-right direction, passing through the fuse holder 110 in the up-down direction. The branch circuit unit 36 ​​can be attached to the second and fourth basic circuit units 20b, 20d by fastening a bolt (not shown) inserted through the bolt insertion hole 120 to the nut 106 of each circuit support 82 in the second and fourth basic circuit units 20b, 20d. Furthermore, a positioning protrusion 122 that fits into the positioning recess 104 is provided on the lower surface of the fuse holder 110, rearward of the bolt insertion hole 120 in FIG. 12. A pair of nuts 124, 124 are provided in an embedded state on the lower surface of the fuse holder 110, rearward of the positioning protrusion 122 in FIG.

[0063] When each fuse 32 is placed on the fuse holder 110, a gap is formed between the upper surface of the fuse holder 110 and each terminal portion 114 of each fuse 32 in the vertical direction. In the front part in FIG. 11, the positive side second output portion 28a (positive side first output portion 26a in the fourth basic circuit unit 20d) constituted by the other end of the bus bar 68e in the second basic circuit unit 20b is inserted into the gap between the upper surface of the fuse holder 110 and each terminal portion 114 in the vertical direction. Bolts (not shown) are inserted into the bolt insertion holes 116 in each terminal portion 114 and the bolt insertion holes 71 in the positive side second output portion 28a (or the positive side first output portion 26a) and fastened to the nuts 118, whereby the positive side second output portion 28a (or the positive side first output portion 26a) and each fuse 32 are electrically connected. 11, one end of a pair of positive end bus bars 126, 126 is inserted into the gap in the vertical direction between the upper surface of fuse holder 110 and each terminal portion 114. Each of these terminal portions 114 and each positive end bus bar 126 are fixed with a bolt (not shown), so that each fuse 32 and each positive end bus bar 126 are electrically connected.

[0064] As a result, in the first embodiment, the terminal portions 114 of the fuses 32 form a branch input portion 30 (positive side branch input portion 30a) connected to the second output portion 28 (positive side second output portion 28a) or the first output portion 26 (positive side first output portion 26a). When the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is connected to the second basic circuit unit 20b, the other end of one (right side in FIG. 11) positive side end bus bar 126 forms a first positive side branch output portion 54a, and the other end of the other (left side in FIG. 11) positive side end bus bar 126 forms a second positive side branch output portion 56a. When the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is connected to the fourth basic circuit unit 20b, the third positive branch output section 58a is configured by the other end of one of the positive end bus bars 126, and the fourth positive branch output section 60a is configured by the other end of the other positive end bus bar 126. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the other ends of the positive end bus bars 126 configure the positive branch output section 34a in the branch output section 34.

[0065] 12, the negative-side second output portion 28b (the negative-side first output portion 26b in the fourth basic circuit unit 20d) formed by the other end of the bus bar 68g in the second basic circuit unit 20b is inserted and overlapped on the underside of the fuse holder 110. One end of a pair of negative-side end bus bars 128, 128 is overlapped with this negative-side second output portion 28b (or the negative-side first output portion 26b) and fixed with a bolt (not shown), thereby electrically connecting the negative-side second output portion 28b (or the negative-side first output portion 26b) and each negative-side end bus bar 128.

[0066] As a result, in the first embodiment, one end of each negative side end bus bar 128 constitutes a branch input section 30 (negative side branch input section 30b) connected to the second output section 28 (negative side second output section 28b) or the first output section 26 (negative side first output section 26b). When the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is connected to the second basic circuit unit 20b, the other end of one (right side in FIG. 11) negative side end bus bar 128 constitutes a first negative side branch output section 54b, and the other end of the other (left side in FIG. 11) negative side end bus bar 128 constitutes a second negative side branch output section 56b. When the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is connected to the fourth basic circuit unit 20d, the third negative branch output section 58b is formed by the other end of one negative end bus bar 128, and the fourth negative branch output section 60b is formed by the other end of the other negative end bus bar 128. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the other ends of the negative end bus bars 128 form the negative branch output section 34b of the branch output section 34.

[0067] <Chassis 130> 1 to 3, the power distribution device 10 has a metal housing 130 that houses the basic circuit units 20a to 20d and the branch circuit units 36. The housing 130 includes a substantially box-shaped housing main body 132 that opens upward, and a substantially plate-shaped cover 134 that covers the upper opening of the housing main body 132. After the upper opening of the housing main body 132 is covered with the cover 134, the housing main body 132 and the cover 134 can be fixed together, for example, by bolts. The housing main body 132 has a substantially rectangular bottom wall portion 136 that is long in the front-rear direction in a plan view, and a peripheral wall portion 138 that protrudes upward from the outer circumferential edge portion of the bottom wall portion 136.

[0068] As described above, the battery packs 12a to 12d are provided on both the left and right sides of the power distribution device 10 and are connected to the input parts 24 of the basic circuit units 20a to 20d, and therefore the first to fourth through holes 140a to 140d are formed in the peripheral wall part 138 of the housing main body 132 at positions corresponding to the input parts 24. The terminal parts 22 of the battery packs 12a to 12d are inserted into the housing main body 132 through the through holes 140a to 140d, and the terminal parts 22 and the input parts 24 are fixed with bolts, so that the basic circuit units 20a to 20d and the battery packs 12a to 12d are electrically connected to each other.

[0069] Connectors 142 are provided at positions on the peripheral wall 138 corresponding to the branch outputs 34. The connectors 142 are electrically connected to the first load branch output 64a (first positive and negative branch outputs 54a, 54b), the second load branch output 64b (second positive and negative branch outputs 56a, 56b), the third load branch output 64c (third positive and negative branch outputs 58a, 58b), and the fourth load branch output 64d (fourth positive and negative branch outputs 60a, 60b). The connectors 144 on the loads 66a to 66d sides are connected to the connectors 142, so that the loads 66a to 66d are electrically connected to the branch outputs 34.

[0070] Furthermore, each of the bus bars 68b, 68d connected to each of the relays 14a to 14d has a heat dissipation contact portion 148 that is in thermal contact with the housing 130 via a heat conductive sheet 146 as an insulating member. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the bus bars 68b, 68d connected to each of the relays 14a to 14d extend over substantially the entire length of each of the basic circuit units 20a to 20d in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction), below each of the basic circuit units 20a to 20d, and each of the bus bars 68b, 68d is in thermal contact with the bottom wall portion 136 of the housing 130 via the heat conductive sheet 146. The heat conductive sheet 146 is not limited as long as it has insulating properties and heat conductivity, and a known heat conductive sheet may be used. The heat conductive sheet 146 is, for example, a rectangular sheet having a width dimension (left-right dimension) larger than each of the bus bars 68b, 68d. Both front-to-rear end portions of each bus bar 68b, 68d are bent upward to form the positive side first and second output portions 26a, 28a, and the front-to-rear intermediate portion of each bus bar 68b, 68d forms a heat dissipation contact portion 148 that is in thermal contact with the bottom wall portion 136 via the thermal conduction sheet 146.

[0071] <Method of Assembling the Power Distribution Device 10> The following describes a specific example of a method for assembling the power distribution device 10. Note that the method for assembling the power distribution device 10 is not limited to the following description.

[0072] First, the relay 14 and the current sensor 16 are placed on the relay mounting portion 86 and the current sensor mounting portion 84 of the circuit support 82. The bus bars 68a, 68b, 68h, 68i, and 68j are inserted through the multiple openings 98 in the circuit support 82, and the ends of the bus bars 68a, 68b, 68h, 68i, and 68j are overlapped with the terminal portions 70 and 73 of the relay 14 and the current sensor 16. Thereafter, the relay 14, the current sensor 16, and the bus bars 68a, 68b, 68h, 68i, and 68j are fixed to the circuit support 82 by bolts (not shown). In this way, the first basic circuit unit 20a and the third basic circuit unit 20c are obtained.

[0073] Similarly, the relay 14 and the current sensor 16 are placed on the relay mounting portion 86 and the current sensor mounting portion 84 of the circuit support 82. The bus bars 68c, 68d, 68f, and 68g are inserted through the multiple openings 98 in the circuit support 82, and the ends of the bus bars 68c, 68d, 68f, and 68g are overlapped with the terminal portions 70 and 73 of the relay 14 and the current sensor 16. The bus bar 68e is overlapped with the bus bar 68d. Then, the relay 14, the current sensor 16, and the bus bars 68c, 68d, 68e, 68f, and 68g are fixed to the circuit support 82 by bolts (not shown). This results in the second basic circuit unit 20b and the fourth basic circuit unit 20d.

[0074] Thereafter, the first basic circuit unit 20a and the second basic circuit unit 20b are connected to each other. Specifically, as described above, the end (negative side second output portion 28b) of the bus bar 68i in the first basic circuit unit 20a is overlapped with the end (negative side first output portion 26b) of the bus bar 68g in the second basic circuit unit 20b. Also, the end (positive side first output portion 26a) of the bus bar 68d in the second basic circuit unit 20b is overlapped with the end (positive side second output portion 28a) of the bus bar 68b in the first basic circuit unit 20a. The overlapped bus bars 68i and 68g, and the bus bars 68d and 68b are bolted together to connect the first basic circuit unit 20a and the second basic circuit unit 20b. Similarly, the third basic circuit unit 20c and the fourth basic circuit unit 20d are connected to each other.

[0075] Next, the first basic circuit unit 20a and the third basic circuit unit 20c are connected. Specifically, as described above, the ends of the bus bars 68b (the positive side first output portion 26a and the positive side second output portion 28a) in the first basic circuit unit 20a and the third basic circuit unit 20c are overlapped on the terminal block 76, and the ends of the bus bars 68b are fixed to the terminal block 76 by bolts not shown. Similarly, the ends of the bus bars 68j (the negative side first output portion 26b and the negative side second output portion 28b) in the first basic circuit unit 20a and the third basic circuit unit 20c are overlapped on the terminal block 76, and the ends of the bus bars 68j are fixed to the terminal block 76 by bolts not shown. As a result, the first basic circuit unit 20a and the third basic circuit unit 20c are connected, and the first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d are connected. In these first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d, a thermally conductive sheet 146 is fixed (eg, bonded) to each of the bus bars 68b, 68d extending downward in the front-rear direction.

[0076] Thereafter, the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is fixed to the outer ends of the second and fourth basic circuit units 20b, 20d in the length direction (front-rear direction). Specifically, the end of the bus bar 68e (positive side second output portion 28a) in the second basic circuit unit 20b, the fuses 32, and the positive side end bus bars 126 are overlapped with the fuse holder 110, and fixed with bolts (not shown). Also, the end of the bus bar 68g (negative side second output portion 28b) in the second basic circuit unit 20b and the negative side end bus bars 128 are overlapped with the fuse holder 110, and fixed with bolts (not shown). This connects the branch circuit unit 36 ​​to the second basic circuit unit 20b. Similarly, the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is connected to the fourth basic circuit unit 20d.

[0077] Next, these connected basic circuit units 20a-20d and branch circuit units 36 are placed in the housing body 132, and with the heat conductive sheet 146 overlapping the bottom wall portion 136 of the housing body 132, the legs 100 of the circuit supports 82 in each of the basic circuit units 20a-20d are bolted to the bottom wall portion 136. Also, the first to fourth load side branch output portions 64a-64d formed by the positive and negative side end bus bars 126, 128 in each branch circuit unit 36 ​​are bolted to the connectors 142 provided in the housing body 132. This completes the power distribution device 10 with the cover 134 removed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0078] The first to fourth battery packs 12a to 12d are arranged on the left and right sides of the power distribution device 10 assembled in this manner, and the terminal portions 22 of the battery packs 12a to 12d are inserted through the through holes 140a to 140d provided in the housing body 132. Thereafter, the terminal portions 22 are bolted to the input portions 24 (the first to fourth input portions 47a to 47d) of the basic circuit units 20a to 20d, thereby electrically connecting the power distribution device 10 and the battery packs 12a to 12d. Then, a cover 134 is attached to the housing body 132 to cover the upper opening of the housing body 132, and the power distribution device 10 and the battery packs 12a to 12d are bolted onto the support plate 38. This support plate 38 is placed in an appropriate location on the vehicle and fixed, for example by bolts, and each connector 142 is connected to each connector 144 on the side of each load 66a to 66d, thereby distributing the power of each battery pack 12a to 12d to each load 66a to 66d.

[0079] <Electrical configuration of power distribution device 10′> Next, the electrical configuration of the power distribution device 10' will be described with reference to Fig. 17 to Fig. 20 etc. As described above, in the power distribution device 10' shown in Fig. 14 etc., two battery packs 12 (first and second battery packs 12a, 12b) are connected, and two basic circuit units 150 (first and second basic circuit units 150a, 150b) are provided corresponding to the two battery packs 12a, 12b. As for each basic circuit unit 150 provided in the power distribution device 10', the front one is referred to as the first basic circuit unit 150a, and the rear one is referred to as the second basic circuit unit 150b.

[0080] The power distribution device 10' also includes a first positive electrode side input section 40a to which the positive electrode side of the first battery pack 12a is connected, and a first negative electrode side input section 40b to which the negative electrode side of the first battery pack 12b is connected. Similarly, the power distribution device 10' includes a second positive electrode side input section 42a to which the positive electrode side of the second battery pack 12b is connected, and a second negative electrode side input section 42b to which the negative electrode side of the second battery pack 12b is connected. The first positive electrode side and negative electrode side input sections 40a, 40b form a first input section 47a, and the second positive electrode side and negative electrode side input sections 42a, 42b form a second input section 47b.

[0081] First and second positive electrode side lines 48a, 48b extending from the first and second positive electrode side input parts 40a, 42a, respectively, are connected in parallel to a positive electrode side connection line 52a, and the downstream of the positive electrode side connection line 52a is branched into four to form first to fourth positive electrode side branch output parts 54a, 56a, 58a, 60a via fuses 32. A first relay 14a and a second relay 14b are connected to the first and second positive electrode side lines 48a, 48b, respectively.

[0082] Similarly, the first and second negative pole side lines 62a, 62b extending from the first and second negative pole side input parts 40b, 42b, respectively, are connected in parallel to the negative pole side connection line 52b, and the downstream of the negative pole side connection line 52b is branched into four to form the first to fourth negative pole side branch output parts 54b, 56b, 58b, 60b. The first and second negative pole side lines 62a, 62b are connected to the first current sensor 16a and the second current sensor 16b, respectively.

[0083] A first load 66a is connected to a first load branch output section 64a formed by the first positive and negative branch output sections 54a and 54b. Similarly, a second load 66b is connected to a second load branch output section 64b formed by the second positive and negative branch output sections 56a and 56b, a third load 66c is connected to a third load branch output section 64c formed by the third positive and negative branch output sections 58a and 58b, and a fourth load 66d is connected to a fourth load branch output section 64d formed by the fourth positive and negative branch output sections 60a and 60b. With such an electrical circuit configuration, in the power distribution device 10' shown in FIG. 14 and the like, two battery packs 12a and 12b are connected in parallel, and the power obtained from each of the battery packs 12a and 12b is distributed to the first to fourth loads 66a to 66d.

[0084] <Busbars 152a~152f> In the above-mentioned power distribution device 10, the first and second basic circuit units 20a, 20b and the third and fourth basic circuit units 20c, 20d have substantially the same shape, and one is rotated 180° around a central axis extending in the vertical direction relative to the other. In contrast, in the power distribution device 10', the first basic circuit unit 150a and the second basic circuit unit 150b have substantially the same shape, and one is rotated 180° around a central axis extending in the vertical direction relative to the other. Therefore, the second output unit 28 in the second basic circuit unit 150b is configured by the configuration of the first output section 26 in the first basic circuit unit 150a. Also, the first output section in the second basic circuit unit 150b is configured by the configuration of the second output section in the first basic circuit unit 150a.

[0085] As shown in Figs. 17 to 19, the first basic circuit unit 150a has a first positive input section 40a connected to the first battery pack 12a, and includes a bus bar 152a electrically connected to the first relay 14a. One end of the bus bar 152a constitutes the first positive input section 40a as the input section 24 connected to the terminal section 22 of the first battery pack 12a. One end of the bus bar 152a (the first positive input section 40a) protrudes to the right of the first basic circuit unit 150a, which is the first relay 14a side. The other end of the bus bar 152a is overlapped with a terminal section 70 protruding from the main body section 69 of the first relay 14a and bolted to be electrically connected to the first relay 14a. Similarly, the second basic circuit unit 150b has a second positive electrode side input section 42a connected to the second battery pack 12b, and has a bus bar 152a electrically connected to the second relay 14b.

[0086] The first basic circuit unit 150a also includes a bus bar 152b connected to the downstream side of the first relay 14a. The bus bar 152b extends in the vertical direction as a whole, and the other end (lower end) of the bus bar 152b is overlapped with the front terminal portion 70 of the first relay 14a, and one end (upper end) of the bus bar 152b constitutes the first output portion 26 (positive side first output portion 26a). Similar to the power distribution device 10, two bolt insertion holes 71, 71 are provided at one end (positive side first output portion 26a) of the bus bar 152b, and a positive side branch input portion 30a constituted by the terminal portions 114, 114 of the fuses 32 in the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is connected thereto. Similarly, the second basic circuit unit 150b has a bus bar 152b connected to the downstream side of the second relay 14b, and one end (the positive side first output portion 26a) of the bus bar 152b can be connected to the positive side branch input portion 30a of the branch circuit unit 36.

[0087] The downstream side of the first relay 14a and the downstream side of the second relay 14b are connected by a bus bar 152c. That is, the bus bar 152c is a bus bar that constitutes the positive electrode side connection line 52a. The bus bar 152c extends in the front-rear direction as a whole, and one end (front end) of the bus bar 152c protrudes upward and is overlapped with the other end of the bus bar 152b on the front terminal portion 70 of the first relay 14a. The other end (rear end) of the bus bar 152d protrudes upward and is overlapped with the other end of the bus bar 152b on the rear terminal portion 70 of the second relay 14b.

[0088] In short, the bus bar 152c is provided in common to the first and second basic circuit units 150a, 150b, and is located below each circuit support 82 in the first and second basic circuit units 150a, 150b. The bus bar 152c has a shape that is rotationally symmetrical about a central axis extending in the vertical direction. Therefore, the bus bar 152c can be understood as a bus bar that integrally includes a positive side second output portion that protrudes backward from the first basic circuit unit 150a, and a positive side first output portion that protrudes forward in the second basic circuit unit 150b obtained by rotating the first basic circuit unit 150a by 180° about a central axis extending in the vertical direction. As a result, the positive side second output portion and the positive side first output portion of the first basic circuit unit 150a and the second basic circuit unit 150b are connected by the bus bar 152c.

[0089] The first basic circuit unit 150a also includes a first negative electrode side input section 40b connected to the first battery pack 12a, and a bus bar 152d electrically connected to the first current sensor 16a. One end of the bus bar 152d constitutes the first negative electrode side input section 40b as the input section 24 connected to the terminal section 22 of the first battery pack 12a. One end (the first negative electrode side input section 40b) of the bus bar 152d protrudes to the right of the first basic circuit unit 20a, which is the first relay 14a side. The other end of the bus bar 152d is overlapped with the terminal section 73 protruding from the main body section 72 of the first current sensor 16a and bolted to be electrically connected to the first current sensor 16a. Similarly, the second basic circuit unit 150b has a second negative electrode side input portion 42b connected to the second battery pack 12b, and has a bus bar 152d electrically connected to the second current sensor 16b.

[0090] A bus bar 152e is connected to the downstream side of the first current sensor 16a. That is, the bus bar 152e is provided in the first basic circuit unit 20a, and constitutes the negative electrode side connection line 52b or is a bus bar connected to the negative electrode side connection line 52b. The bus bar 152e extends in the front-rear direction as a whole, and the other end (rear end) of the bus bar 152e is overlapped with the terminal portion 73 protruding downward from the first current sensor 16a. In addition, one end (front end) of the bus bar 152e constitutes the negative side first output portion 26b. Similar to the power distribution device 10, two bolt insertion holes 74, 74 are provided in one end (negative side first output portion 26b) of the bus bar 152e, and a negative side branch input portion 30b constituted by one end of each negative side end bus bar 128 in the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is connected to the bus bar 152e. Similarly, the second basic circuit unit 150b has a bus bar 152e whose other end is connected to the downstream side of the second current sensor 16b and whose one end (negative side first output section 26b) is connected to the branch circuit unit 36.

[0091] Here, the other ends of the busbars 152e in the first and second basic circuit units 150a and 150b are connected to each other by a busbar 152f. The busbar 152f extends in the front-rear direction as a whole, and has a shape that is rotationally symmetrical about a central axis that extends in the up-down direction. One end (front end) of the busbar 152f, together with the other end of the busbar 152e, is overlapped with the terminal portion 73 of the first current sensor 16a, and the other end (rear end) of the busbar 152f, together with the other end of the busbar 152e, is overlapped with the terminal portion 73 of the second current sensor 16b.

[0092] In short, the bus bar 152f can be understood as a bus bar integrally including a negative-side second output portion protruding rearward from the first basic circuit unit 150a and a negative-side first output portion protruding forward in the second basic circuit unit 150b obtained by rotating the first basic circuit unit 150a 180° about a central axis extending in the up-down direction. As a result, the negative-side second output portion and the negative-side first output portion of the first basic circuit unit 150a and the second basic circuit unit 150b are connected by the bus bar 152f.

[0093] <Basic circuit unit 150 (first and second basic circuit units 150a and 150b)> 17 to 19, the first basic circuit unit 150a includes the first relay 14a and the first current sensor 16a, bus bars 152a and 152b connected to the first relay 14a, and bus bars 152d and 152e connected to the first current sensor 16a. As described above, the second basic circuit unit 150b is the first basic circuit unit 150a rotated 180° around a central axis extending in the vertical direction, and includes the second relay 14b and the second current sensor 16b, bus bars 152a and 152b connected to the second relay 14b, and bus bars 152d and 152e connected to the second current sensor 16b. The first and second basic circuit units 150a and 150b include bus bars 152c and 152f as common bus bars.

[0094] In these first and second basic circuit units 150a, 150b, the relays 14a, 14b, the current sensors 16a, 16b, and the bus bars 152a-152f are assembled to the circuit support 82 in the same manner as in the previously described power distribution device 10. The assembly of the bus bars 152a-152f to the circuit support 82 can be performed through the openings 98 as previously described, and when the first basic circuit units 150a, 150b are connected, both ends of the bus bar 152f can be overlapped with the other ends of the bus bars 152e through the openings 98.

[0095] Further, a branch circuit unit 36 ​​is connected to both longitudinal ends of the first and second basic circuit units 150a, 150b in the same manner as the above-described power distribution device 10. That is, the positive-side branch input portion 30a in the branch circuit unit 36 ​​is overlapped and connected to the positive-side first output portion 26a (or the positive-side second output portion 28a) formed by one end of each bus bar 152b, and the negative-side branch input portion 30b is overlapped and connected to the negative-side first output portion 26b (or the negative-side second output portion 28b) formed by one end of each bus bar 152e.

[0096] <Cabinet 130'> The shape of the housing 130' in the power distribution device 10' is the same as that of the housing 130 in the power distribution device 10 described above. That is, the housing 130 in the power distribution device 10 described above had a length dimension (front-rear dimension) capable of accommodating the four basic circuit units 20 (first to fourth basic circuit units 20a to 20d) and the two branch circuit units 36, but the housing 130' in the power distribution device 10' has a length dimension capable of accommodating the two basic circuit units 150 (first and second basic circuit units 150a, 150b) and the two branch circuit units 36. First and second through holes 140a, 140b are formed on both left and right sides of the peripheral wall portion 138 in the housing 130' corresponding to the first and second battery packs 12a, 12b, respectively.

[0097] 17, in the power distribution device 10', a thermally conductive sheet 146' serving as an insulating member is fixed (for example, glued) to a bus bar 152c connected to each of the relays 14a, 14b, and a heat dissipation contact portion 154 of the bus bar 152c is in thermal contact with a bottom wall portion 136 of the housing 130' via the thermally conductive sheet 146'. Both front-rear end portions of the bus bar 152c are bent upward and overlapped with the terminal portions 70 of the first and second relays 14a, 14b, so that the heat dissipation contact portion 154 is formed by a front-rear intermediate portion of the bus bar 152c.

[0098] <Method of Assembling the Power Distribution Device 10'> The power distribution device 10' can be assembled in a manner similar to the assembly method of the power distribution device 10 described above.

[0099] That is, two units are prepared, each of which has the relay 14, the current sensor 16, and the bus bars 152a, 152b, 152d, and 152e assembled to the circuit support 82, and one is rotated 180° about a central axis extending in the vertical direction relative to the other, and the two are connected to each other by the bus bars 152c and 152f. This connects the first basic circuit unit 150a and the second basic circuit unit 150b in the front-rear direction.

[0100] Furthermore, the branch circuit units 36 are connected to both front and rear ends of the first basic circuit unit 150a and the second basic circuit unit 150b, respectively, and a thermally conductive sheet 146' is fixed (for example, glued) to the lower surface of the bus bar 152c. Thereafter, the first and second basic circuit units 150a, 150b and the branch circuit units 36 are housed and fixed in the housing 130', thereby completing the power distribution device 10' without the cover 134, as shown in Figures 15 and 16.

[0101] Similar to the above-described power distribution device 10, the power distribution device 10' can be connected to the connectors 144 on the two battery packs 12 (first and second battery packs 12a, 12b) and the four loads (first to fourth loads 66a to 66d) sides. This allows the power of the battery packs 12a, 12b to be distributed to the loads 66a to 66.

[0102] According to the power distribution device 10, 10' of the first embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, when four battery packs 12a-12d are used, for example, the power distribution device 10 in which four basic circuit units 20a-20d are connected can be adopted, and when two battery packs 12a, 12b are used, the power distribution device 10' in which two basic circuit units 150a, 150b are connected can be adopted. In this way, by adopting the structure of the present disclosure, it is possible to respond to an increase or decrease in the number of required battery packs 12 by increasing or decreasing the number of basic circuit units. For example, when the number of battery packs 12 increases to two, four, six, etc., it is possible to respond by increasing the number of basic circuit units to two, four, six, etc. Then, by connecting branch circuit units to both ends of the basic circuit units, the power in each battery pack 12 can be distributed to multiple loads.

[0103] In particular, in the power distribution device 10 shown in Fig. 1 and the like, the first and second basic circuit units 20a, 20b and the third and fourth basic circuit units 20c, 20d are shaped to be substantially rotationally symmetrical about a central axis extending in the vertical direction, and in the power distribution device 10' shown in Fig. 14 and the like, the first basic circuit unit 150a and the second basic circuit unit 150b are shaped to be substantially rotationally symmetrical about a central axis extending in the vertical direction. This prevents the number of types of parts from becoming too large when assembling either of the power distribution devices 10, 10', thereby improving the assembly efficiency. Furthermore, the branch circuit units 36 provided at both ends are also shaped to be the same as each other, thereby further improving the assembly efficiency.

[0104] These basic circuit units 20a to 20d, 150a, 150b are all configured to include circuit supports 82 having the same shape. That is, the circuit supports 82 having the same shape can be adopted regardless of the number of battery packs 12, and a desired basic circuit unit, such as the first basic circuit units 20a, 150a or the second basic circuit unit 20b, can be selectively manufactured depending on the arrangement of the bus bars on the circuit support 82. This further suppresses an increase in the number of types of parts, and further improves manufacturing efficiency.

[0105] The power distribution device 10 has a housing 130 that houses the basic circuit units 20a to 20d and the branch circuit units 36, and the power distribution device 10' has a housing 130' that houses the basic circuit units 150a, 150b and the branch circuit units 36. The basic structure of these housings 130, 130' is the same, and the length dimension is made different depending on the number of basic circuit units, so that the power distribution devices 10, 10' can be manufactured without significantly changing the shape of the housings 130, 130' as well as the power distribution devices 10, 10'. In particular, for example, in the power distribution device 10, the bus bars 68b, 68d connected to the relays 14a, 14b are both positioned below the basic circuit units 20a to 20d and are thermally in contact with the bottom wall portion 136 of the housing 130 via one heat conductive sheet 146. This allows the heat generated in the relays 14a, 14b to be dissipated with a simpler structure. Furthermore, since a similar heat dissipation structure can be adopted for any power distribution device regardless of whether the number of basic circuit units is increased or decreased, it is possible to avoid, for example, the heat dissipation structure becoming complicated due to an increase in the number of basic circuit units.

[0106] In the power distribution device 10, the first basic circuit unit 20a and the third basic circuit unit 20c are connected by a terminal block 76. This makes it possible to connect the first and second basic circuit units 20a, 20b and the third and fourth basic circuit units 20c, 20d, which have the same shape. By using such a terminal block, the number of basic circuit units can be easily increased according to the number of battery packs.

[0107] <Modification> Although the first embodiment has been described above as a specific example of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited to this specific description. Modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope of achieving the object of the present disclosure are included in the present disclosure. For example, the following modified examples of the embodiment are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0108] (1) In the above embodiment, the number of battery packs 12 and basic circuit units 20, 150 is two or four, but the number of battery packs and basic circuit units is not limited. For example, when six battery packs are used, a circuit for four battery packs such as the power distribution device 10 and a circuit for two battery packs such as the power distribution device 10' may be connected in parallel, or three circuits for two battery packs such as the power distribution device 10' may be connected in parallel. That is, even when four battery packs are provided, the busbar arrangement is not limited to that of the power distribution device 10 in the above embodiment, and two circuits in the power distribution device 10' may be provided in parallel. When connecting such circuits, the terminal block 76 described in the above embodiment may be used. Note that the number of battery packs and the number of basic circuit units do not necessarily need to match, and the number of basic circuit units may be arranged in a number corresponding to the number of battery packs, and for example, the number of battery packs and the number of basic circuit units may be proportional to each other.

[0109] (2) In the above embodiment, four load side branch output sections (first to fourth load side branch output sections 64a to 64d) were provided in each of the power distribution devices 10, 10′ so that four loads 66a to 66d could be connected thereto. However, the number of loads to be connected, i.e., the number of load side branch output sections, is not limited as long as it is plural.

[0110] (3) In the above embodiment, the first to fourth battery packs 12a to 12d were connected in parallel. However, by changing the arrangement of the bus bars in the basic circuit unit, the multiple battery packs may be connected in series.

[0111] (4) In the above embodiment, for example, the connection between the first basic circuit unit 20a, 150a and the second basic circuit unit 20b, 150b is realized by connecting the second output portion 28 of the first basic circuit unit 20a, 150a to the first output portion 26 of the second basic circuit unit 20b, 150b. Note that projections and recesses may be provided on mutually opposing portions of the circuit supports of the first and second basic circuit units so that the projections and recesses fit together, thereby temporarily fixing the first and second basic circuit units to each other when they are connected.

[0112] (5) The voltage of each battery pack is not limited to 48V, and battery packs of any voltage may be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 10,10' power distribution equipment 12 Battery pack 12a to 12d 1st to 4th battery packs 14 Relay 14a~14d 1st~4th Relay 16 Current Sensor 16a to 16d First to fourth current sensors 18 Basic circuit 18a~18d 1st~4th basic circuit 20 Basic circuit unit 20a to 20d First to fourth basic circuit units 22 Terminal section 24 Input section 26 First output section 26a Positive side 1st output part 26b Negative side first output section 28 Second output section 28a Positive side 1st output part 28b Negative side first output section 30 Branch input section 30a positive branch input 30b Negative side branch input 32 Fuse 34 Branch output section 34a Positive branch output 34b Negative side branch output 36 Branch circuit unit 38,38' Support plate 40a, 42a, 44a, 46a First to fourth positive input sections 40b, 42b, 44b, 46b First to fourth negative input sections 47a to 47d 1st to 4th input sections 48a to 48d 1st to 4th positive side lines 52a Positive connection line 52b Negative connection line 54a, 56a, 58a, 60a 1st to 4th positive pole branch output parts 54b, 56b, 58b, 60b 1st to 4th negative pole branch output parts 62a to 62d 1st to 4th negative electrode side lines 64a to 64d 1st to 4th load side branch output sections 66a~66d 1st~4th load 68,68a~68j Busbar 69 Main body 70 Terminal section 71 Bolt insertion hole 72 Main body 73 Terminal section 74 Bolt insertion hole 76 Terminal block 78 Front opening 80 Rear opening 82 Circuit support 84 Current sensor attachment part 86 Relay mounting part 88 Main body placement area 90 Terminal arrangement area 92 Main body placement area 94 Terminal arrangement area 96 Nut 98 Opening 100 Legs 102 Bolt insertion hole 104 Positioning recess 106 Nut 108 Pressing protrusion 110 Fuse holder 112 Main body 114 Terminal section 116 Bolt insertion hole 118 Nut 120 Bolt hole 122 Positioning protrusion 124 Nut 126 Positive end busbar 128 Negative end busbar 130,130' Case 132 Main unit 134 Cover 136 Bottom wall 138 Peripheral wall section 140a~140d 1st~4th through hole 142,144 Connectors 146, 146' Thermally conductive sheet (insulating material) 148 Contact area for heat dissipation 150 Basic circuit unit 150a First basic circuit unit 150b second basic circuit unit 152a~152f busbar 154 Contact area for heat dissipation

Claims

1. a basic circuit unit including a relay, a current sensor, and a basic circuit to which the relay and the current sensor are connected, the basic circuit having an input section connected to a terminal section of a battery pack, a first output section, and a second output section; a branch circuit unit having a branch input section connected to at least one of the first output section and the second output section of the basic circuit unit, and a plurality of branch output sections each connected to the branch input section via a fuse; The basic circuit units are arranged in a number corresponding to the number of battery packs installed in the vehicle, and when a plurality of the basic circuit units are adopted corresponding to a plurality of the battery packs, the first output portion of one of the adjacent basic circuit units is connected to the second output portion of the other of the adjacent basic circuit units, thereby electrically connecting the plurality of battery packs.

2. the basic circuit unit includes an insulating circuit support, the current sensor is attached to a current sensor mounting portion provided on one end side of the circuit support, and the relay is attached to a relay mounting portion provided on the other end side of the circuit support, The power distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the basic circuit includes a plurality of bus bars each having the input portion, the first output portion, and the second output portion at each end thereof, and is assembled to the circuit support.

3. a metal housing that houses the basic circuit unit and the branch circuit unit; The power distribution device according to claim 2 , wherein the bus bar connected to the relay has a heat dissipation contact portion that is in thermal contact with the housing via an insulating member.

4. an insulating terminal block disposed between the circuit supports of the basic circuit units that are adjacent to each other; 4. The power distribution device according to claim 2, wherein one of the basic circuit units and another of the basic circuit units are held and connected to each other in the terminal block.

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