Electric conductor

Abstract

To provide an electric conductor that can achieve both an improvement of the degree of freedom in design of the shape of a bus bar, and an improvement in the versatility of an external component.SOLUTION: An electric conductor 1 comprises a plate-like bus bar 2, and an external component 3 that is attached to the bus bar 2. The bus bar 2 has, in at least part thereof, a part to be attached 13 that has a conductor part 11 and an insulating coating 12 covering the conductor part 11, and has a twisted shape in which the bus bar 2 extends while being twisted around an axis of the bus bar 2. The external component 3 has a body part 20 that has a groove part 22 extending so that it can accommodate the part to be attached 13 of the bus bar 2, and a cover part 30 that can open and close an opening of the groove part 22. The external component 3 is configured to sandwich the part to be attached 13 of the bus bar 2 in a thickness direction of the bus bar 2 by the body part 20 and the cover part 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conductor including a plate-shaped bus bar and an exterior component attached to the bus bar.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when routing a metal bus bar in an automobile or the like, it has been proposed to assemble an insulating exterior component so as to cover the bus bar and, if necessary, fix the exterior component to a vehicle body or the like of the automobile or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Bus bars of the type described above generally have a shape that extends along a predetermined routing path (so-called layout) according to the specifications of an automobile or the like. Similarly, the exterior component generally has a shape corresponding to such a routing path so as to accommodate such a bus bar. In other words, the exterior component has a dedicated shape different for each specification of the bus bar. Therefore, naturally, if the shape of the bus bar is different, the shape of the exterior component will also be different. Conversely, if an attempt is made to generalize the exterior component, the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar will decrease. For these reasons, it is generally difficult to achieve both an increase in the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar and an increase in the versatility of the exterior component.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a conductor capable of achieving both an improvement in the degree of freedom in designing the shape of a bus bar and an improvement in the versatility of an exterior component.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the conductor according to the present invention is characterized as follows.

[0007] A conductor comprising a plate-shaped bus bar and an exterior component attached to the bus bar, wherein the bus bar has a conductor portion and an insulating coating covering the conductor portion, and at least a part thereof has a mounting portion having a twisted shape in which the bus bar extends while being twisted around the axis of the bus bar, and the exterior component has a main body portion having a groove portion extending so as to be able to accommodate the mounting portion of the bus bar, and a cover portion capable of opening and closing the opening of the groove portion, and is a conductor.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the conductor of the present invention, the bus bar is composed of a conductor portion covered with an insulating coating, and at least a part thereof has a mounting portion having a twisted shape in which the bus bar extends while being twisted around the axis of the bus bar. The mounting portion is used for attaching the bus bar and the exterior component. Specifically, the mounting portion of the bus bar is accommodated in the groove portion of the exterior component. Thus, since the conductor portion of the bus bar is covered with the insulating coating, it is not necessary to provide an exterior component so as to cover the entire bus bar. Further, the exterior component only needs to have a groove portion capable of accommodating the mounting portion having a twisted shape and a cover portion for opening and closing the groove portion, and does not need to have a dedicated shape for each shape (for example, layout) of the bus bar. Therefore, the versatility of the exterior component can be enhanced. On the other hand, in the bus bar, the shape (for example, layout) of the portion other than the mounting portion can be designed without considering the presence of the exterior component. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar can be enhanced. Therefore, the conductor of this configuration can achieve both an improvement in the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar and an improvement in the versatility of the exterior component.

[0009] Furthermore, as another effect, since the attached part having a twisted shape is accommodated in the exterior part, displacement of the exterior part in the axial direction of the bus bar (so-called positional deviation occurs) can be suppressed compared to the case where a portion of the bus bar that extends linearly without having a twisted shape is accommodated in the exterior part. Furthermore, for example, by individually attaching exterior parts to each of the positive-side bus bar and the negative-side bus bar, an unintentional short circuit between the bus bars can be prevented. In addition, miniaturization of the exterior part and improvement in workability of the work of attaching the exterior part to the bus bar can be achieved.

[0010] As described above, the present invention has been briefly explained. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

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Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the conductor 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, etc., the conductor 1 includes a bus bar 2 and an exterior component 3 attached to an attachment portion 13 which is a part of the extending direction of the bus bar 2. In FIGS. 1 and 2, etc., only the attachment portion 13 of the bus bar 2 is shown. Typically, the conductor 1 is mounted and used in an automobile or the like in a state where the bus bar 2 is routed in an automobile or the like and the exterior component 3 attached to the attachment portion 13 of the bus bar 2 is fixed to a vehicle body or the like of an automobile or the like. In FIGS. 1 and 2, an example is shown in which a pair of conductors 1 each having an exterior component 3 attached to the attachment portion 13 of the positive electrode side bus bar 2 (in this example, the right side in FIG. 2) and the attachment portion 13 of the negative electrode side bus bar 2 (in this example, the left side in FIG. 2) are arranged side by side with a gap therebetween.

[0013] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1, etc., "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up" and "down" are defined. The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction" and "up-down direction" are orthogonal to each other. The front-rear direction coincides with the extending direction (axial direction) of the attachment portion 13 of the bus bar 2 and the extending direction of the exterior component 3. It should be noted that these directions are only defined for convenience of explanation and do not necessarily correspond to the front-rear direction, left-right direction and up-down direction of an automobile or the like when the conductor 1 is mounted on an automobile or the like. Hereinafter, the configuration of each component constituting the conductor 1 will be described in order.

[0014] First, the bus bar 2 will be described. The bus bar 2 has a shape extending along a wiring route according to the specifications of an automobile or the like (for example, a shape extending while being three-dimensionally bent), and is composed of a conductor portion 11 extending with such a shape and an insulating coating 12 covering the outer periphery of the conductor portion 11 (see FIG. 2). In this example, in the portion illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, which is a part of the extending direction of the bus bar 2, the conductor portion 11 is a metal plate having a rectangular cross section and extending in an elongated shape, and the insulating coating 12 covers the outer periphery of the conductor portion 11 over the entire region in the extending direction of the conductor portion 11. Note that the shape of the portion of the bus bar 2 that is not illustrated may be determined based on the specifications of the bus bar 2 or the like, and does not necessarily have to have a linear shape.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bus bar 2 has a portion extending in the front-rear direction (that is, a portion where the conductor portion 11 is covered by the insulating coating 12) as an attached portion 13 in a part of the extending direction. The attached portion 13 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape as described above over the entire region in the extending direction (front-rear direction). For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer surface extending in the extending direction of the attached portion 13 is composed of a pair of side surfaces a arranged to face each other in the thickness direction of the attached portion 13 (the conductor portion 11 constituting the attached portion 13) and a pair of side surfaces b arranged to face each other in the width direction of the attached portion 13 (the conductor portion 11 constituting the attached portion 13). In this example, since the entire region in the extending direction of the conductor portion 11 itself is covered by the insulating coating 12, it is not necessary to provide the exterior component 3 so as to cover the entire region in the extending direction of the bus bar 2. For this reason, in this example, the exterior component 3 is attached to the bus bar 2 so as to cover (accommodate) only a part (a part or all of the extending direction) of the attached portion 13, which is a part of the extending direction of the bus bar 2. As a result, the exterior component 3 only needs to be able to accommodate only a part (a part or all of the extending direction) of the attached portion 13 of the bus bar 2, and does not need to have a dedicated shape for each bus bar, so the versatility is high. On the other hand, in the bus bar 2, the shape of the portion other than the attached portion 13 can be designed without considering the presence of the exterior component 3. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar 2 is high.

[0016] The attached portion 13 of the bus bar 2 has, at the central portion in the extending direction (front-rear direction), a portion having a twisted shape that extends while being twisted by 90 degrees around the axis of the attached portion 13, as shown in FIG. 2. For this reason, specifically, the attached portion 13 of the bus bar 2 has a vertical portion 13a that extends in the front-rear direction while maintaining the orientation in which the thickness direction coincides with the left-right direction and constitutes the front portion of the attached portion 13, a twisted portion 13b that has the above-described twisted shape and extends in the front-rear direction and constitutes the central portion in the extending direction of the attached portion 13, and a horizontal portion 13c that extends in the front-rear direction while maintaining the orientation in which the thickness direction coincides with the up-down direction and constitutes the rear portion of the attached portion 13, integrally.

[0017] Next, the exterior component 3 will be described. The exterior component 3 is a resin molded body and is composed of a main body portion 20 that extends in the front-rear direction and a cover portion 30 that is separate from the main body portion 20 and extends in the front-rear direction and can open and close the opening of a groove portion 22 (described later) of the main body portion 20, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the main body portion 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends in the front-rear direction. A groove portion 22 that is recessed downward, open upward, and penetrates in the front-rear direction is provided on the upper surface 21 (the plane facing upward) of the main body portion 20. The attached portion 13 (= vertical portion 13a + twisted portion 13b + horizontal portion 13c) of the bus bar 2 is to be accommodated in the groove portion 22 (see also FIGS. 4 to 6). Details of the surface shape of the groove inner wall of the groove portion 22 will be described later. Engaging portions 23 are provided at each of the both ends in the front-rear direction and both ends in the left-right direction of the main body portion 20 (a total of 4 locations). Each engaging portion 23 is to engage with a corresponding engaging portion 33 (described later) of the cover portion 30. A fixing portion 41 that is to be fixed to a vehicle body such as an automobile is provided at the central portion in the front-rear direction on the outer surface of the left side wall of the main body portion 20.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, the cover part 30 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape extending in the front-rear direction corresponding to the shape of the upper surface 21 of the main body part 20. On the lower surface 31 (the plane facing downward) of the cover part 30, a groove part 32 is provided which is recessed upward and open downward and extends in the front-rear direction. In the groove part 32, the vertical part 13a and the twisted part 13b of the attached part 13 of the bus bar 2 will be accommodated (see also Figs. 4 to 6). For this reason, the groove part 32 extends from the front end in the front-rear direction of the cover part 30 to a midway position between the rear end and the center in the front-rear direction. Details of the surface shape of the groove inner wall of the groove part 32 will be described later. At each of both ends in the front-rear direction and both ends in the left-right direction of the cover part 30 (a total of 4 places), an engaging part 33 is provided corresponding to the engaged part 23 of the main body part 20. In this example, the engaging part 33 is a locking piece having a locking projection, and the engaged part 23 is a locking hole into which an engaging piece is inserted to lock the locking projection. Above, the configurations of the respective components constituting the conductor 1 have been described.

[0020] Next, the procedure for attaching the exterior part 3 to the bus bar 2 will be described. In order to attach the exterior part 3 to the bus bar 2, first, as shown in Fig. 2, with respect to the main body part 20 in a state where the cover part 30 is separated, the attached part 13 (= vertical part 13a + twisted part 13b + horizontal part 13c), which is a part of the extending direction of the bus bar 2, is accommodated in the groove part 22. Next, the cover part 30 is assembled to the main body part 20 so that the vertical part 13a and the twisted part 13b in the attached part 13 are accommodated in the groove part 32, and the lower surface 31 of the cover part 30 and the upper surface 21 of the main body part 20 are in surface contact (see Figs. 4 to 6). Thereby, the attachment of the exterior part 3 to the bus bar 2 is completed, and the conductor 1 shown in Fig. 1 in the assembled completed state is obtained. In the assembled completed state of the conductor 1, the cover part 30 is maintained in a state of being firmly fixed to the main body part 20 by the engagement of each of the four engaging parts 33 and the four engaged parts 23.

[0021] Hereinafter, the surface shape of the groove inner wall of the groove portion 22 of the main body portion 20 and the surface shape of the groove inner wall of the groove portion 32 of the cover portion 30 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the surface of the groove inner wall of the groove portion 22 of the main body portion 20 has a surface shape that extends along and contacts or is close to the outer surface of the attached portion 13 (= vertical portion 13a + twisted portion 13b + horizontal portion 13c) that is in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 22 over the entire front-rear direction (see FIGS. 4 to 6). In particular, at the location where the twisted portion 13b of the attached portion 13 is accommodated, it has a surface shape that curves along and contacts or is close to the outer surface of the twisted portion 13b corresponding to the twisted shape of the twisted portion 13b and extends (see FIG. 5).

[0022] Similarly, the surface of the groove inner wall of the groove portion 32 of the cover portion 30 has a surface shape that extends along and contacts or is close to the outer surfaces of the vertical portion 13a and the twisted portion 13b of the attached portion 13 that are in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 32 over the entire front-rear direction (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In particular, at the location where the twisted portion 13b of the attached portion 13 is accommodated, it has a surface shape that curves along and contacts or is close to the outer surface of the twisted portion 13b corresponding to the twisted shape of the twisted portion 13b and extends (see FIG. 5).

[0023] Therefore, in the completed state of assembling the conductor 1, in the vertical portion 13a and the twisted portion 13b of the mounted portion 13, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of side surfaces a arranged opposite to each other in the thickness direction of the mounted portion 13 are sandwiched in the thickness direction of the mounted portion 13 by the groove inner walls of the groove portion 22 and the groove inner walls of the groove portion 32 (coming into contact or approaching), and a pair of side surfaces b arranged opposite to each other in the width direction of the mounted portion 13 are sandwiched in the width direction of the mounted portion 13 by the groove inner walls of the groove portion 22 and the groove inner walls of the groove portion 32 (coming into contact or approaching). In the horizontal portion 13c of the mounted portion 13, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of side surfaces a arranged opposite to each other in the thickness direction of the mounted portion 13 are sandwiched in the thickness direction of the mounted portion 13 by the groove inner walls of the groove portion 22 and the lower surface 31 of the cover portion 30 (coming into contact or approaching), and a pair of side surfaces b arranged opposite to each other in the width direction of the mounted portion 13 are sandwiched in the width direction of the mounted portion 13 only by the groove inner walls of the groove portion 22 (coming into contact or approaching).

[0024] As described above, in the completed state of assembling the conductor 1, the exterior component 3 (= main body portion 20 + cover portion 30) sandwiches the mounted portion 13 (= vertical portion 13a + twisted portion 13b + horizontal portion 13c) covered by the exterior component 3 in the thickness direction and the width direction over the entire extending direction of the mounted portion 13 by the cooperation of the groove inner wall of the groove portion 22 of the main body portion 20, the groove inner wall of the groove portion 32 of the cover portion 30, and the lower surface 31 of the cover portion 30. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the mounted portion 13 of the bus bar 2 in the thickness direction and the width direction (so-called play occurs) among the exterior components 3.

[0025] The assembled conductor 1 is mounted on an automobile or the like in a state where the bus bar 2 is routed in the automobile or the like and the fixing portion 41 (see FIG. 1 and the like) provided on the exterior component 3 attached to the mounted portion 13 of the bus bar 2 is fixed to the vehicle body or the like of the automobile or the like.

[0026] In the assembled conductor 1, when removing the bus bar 2 from the exterior component 3, first, the engagement between the four engaged portions 23 of the main body portion 20 and the four engaging portions 33 of the cover portion 30 is released, and the cover portion 30 is separated from the main body portion 20. Next, the attached portion 13 of the bus bar 2 is moved upward toward the outside of the groove portion 22 through an opening that opens above the groove portion 22 of the main body portion 20. Thereby, the operation of removing the bus bar 2 from the exterior component 3 is completed.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when a pair of conductors 1 to which the exterior component 3 is attached to the attached portion 13 of the positive-side bus bar 2 and the attached portion 13 of the negative-side bus bar 2 are arranged side by side with a space therebetween, when performing the operation of removing the bus bar 2 from the exterior component 3 for each of the pair of conductors 1, by sufficiently opening the space between the pair of conductors 1, it is possible to prevent one bus bar 2 from contacting the other bus bar 2, thereby preventing an unintentional short circuit between the bus bars 2.

[0028] <Function and Effect> According to the conductor 1 according to the present embodiment, the bus bar 2 is composed of a conductor portion 11 covered with an insulating coating 12, and has at least a part of an attached portion 13 having a twisted shape in which the bus bar 2 extends while being twisted around its axis. The attached portion 13 is used for attaching the bus bar 2 and the exterior component 3. Specifically, the attached portion 13 of the bus bar 2 is accommodated in a groove portion 22 provided in the exterior component 3. Thus, since the conductor portion 11 of the bus bar 2 is covered with the insulating coating 12, it is not necessary to provide an exterior component 3 so as to cover the entire bus bar 2. Further, the exterior component 3 only needs to have a groove portion 22 capable of accommodating the attached portion 13 having a twisted shape and a cover portion 30 for opening and closing the groove portion 22, and does not need to have a dedicated shape for each bus bar 2. Therefore, the versatility of the exterior component 3 can be enhanced. On the other hand, in the bus bar 2, the shape of the portion other than the attached portion 13 can be designed without considering the presence of the exterior component 3. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar 2 can be enhanced. Therefore, the conductor 1 according to the present embodiment can achieve both an improvement in the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar 2 and an improvement in the versatility of the exterior component 3.

[0029] Furthermore, as another effect, since the attached portion 13 having a twisted shape is accommodated in the exterior component 3, displacement of the exterior component 3 in the axial direction of the bus bar 2 (so-called positional deviation occurs) can be suppressed as compared with the case where a portion extending linearly without having a twisted shape of the bus bar 2 is accommodated in the exterior component 3. Further, for example, by individually attaching the exterior component 3 to each of the positive electrode side bus bar 2 and the negative electrode side bus bar 2, an unintentional short circuit between the bus bars can be prevented. In addition, miniaturization of the exterior component 3 and improvement in workability of the work of attaching the exterior component 3 to the bus bar 2 can be achieved.

[0030] Furthermore, the exterior component 3 is configured such that the attached portion 13 of the bus bar 2 is sandwiched in the thickness direction of the bus bar 2 by the main body portion 20 and the cover portion 30. Thereby, displacement of the bus bar 2 in the thickness direction (so-called rattling occurs) in the groove portion 22 of the exterior component 3 can be suppressed.

[0031] Furthermore, the groove inner wall of the groove portion 22 of the main body portion 20 of the exterior component 3 and the groove inner wall of the groove portion 32 of the cover portion 30 have a surface shape that curves along the outer surface of the attached portion 13 corresponding to the twisted shape of the attached portion 13. Thereby, since the groove inner wall of the main body portion 20 and the groove inner wall of the cover portion 30 are likely to be in surface contact with the bus bar 2, displacement of the bus bar 2 in the thickness direction (so-called rattling occurs) in the groove portion 22 of the exterior component 3 can be more strongly suppressed.

[0032] <Other forms> Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0033] In the above-described embodiment (refer to FIGS. 1 to 6), in the state where the conductor 1 is completely assembled, the surface formed by the groove inner wall of the groove portion 22 of the main body portion 20, the groove inner wall of the groove portion 32 of the cover portion 30, and the lower surface 31 of the cover portion 30 has a surface shape that extends along and contacts or is close to the outer surface of the attached portion 13 (= vertical portion 13a + twisted portion 13b + horizontal portion 13c) of the bus bar 2 that is covered by the exterior component 3 over the entire front-rear direction (refer to FIGS. 4 to 6). Thus, the exterior component 3 (= main body portion 20 + cover portion 30) sandwiches the attached portion 13 in the thickness direction and the width direction over the entire extending direction of the attached portion 13 (= vertical portion 13a + twisted portion 13b + horizontal portion 13c) that is covered by the exterior component 3 in the state where the conductor 1 is completely assembled.

[0034] On the other hand, in the modified example shown in FIGS. 7 to 13, the surface of the groove inner wall of the groove portion 22 that penetrates in the front-rear direction of the main body portion 20 extends along and contacts or is close to the outer surface of the vertical portion 13a of the attached portion 13 of the bus bar 2 in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 22, and extends away from the outer surfaces of the twisted portion 13b and the horizontal portion 13c of the attached portion 13 of the bus bar 2 in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 22 (refer to FIGS. 10 to 13).

[0035] However, in the groove portion 22 at the front-rear direction position corresponding to the twisted portion 13b of the attached portion 13, a first protrusion portion 24 that protrudes upward toward the outer surface of the twisted portion 13b of the attached portion 13 in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 22 is formed (refer to FIGS. 8, 9(b), and 13). The protruding end surface of the first protrusion portion 24 has a surface shape that curves along and contacts or is close to the outer surface of the twisted portion 13b of the attached portion 13 in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 22 (refer to FIGS. 12 and 13).

[0036] Similarly, the surface of the groove inner wall of the groove portion 32 penetrating in the front-rear direction of the cover portion 30 extends while contacting or approaching the outer surface of the vertical portion 13a of the attached portion 13 in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 32, and is separated from the outer surfaces of the twisted portion 13b and the horizontal portion 13c of the attached portion 13 in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 32 and has a surface shape (see FIGS. 11 to 13). However, in the groove portion 32 at the front-rear position corresponding to the front-rear position where the first protrusion portion 24 of the main body portion 20 is provided, a second protrusion portion 34 protruding downward toward the outer surface of the twisted portion 13b of the attached portion 13 in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 32 is formed (see FIGS. 8, 9(a), and 13). The protruding end surface of the second protrusion portion 34 has a surface shape that curves along and contacts or approaches the outer surface of the twisted portion 13b of the attached portion 13 in a state of being accommodated in the groove portion 32 (see FIGS. 12 and 13).

[0037] Therefore, in the state where the conductor 1 is completely assembled, in the vertical portion 13a of the mounted portion 13, as shown in FIG. 11, a pair of side surfaces a disposed opposite to each other in the thickness direction of the mounted portion 13 are sandwiched in the thickness direction of the mounted portion 13 by the groove portion 22 and the groove portion 32 (contacting or approaching), and a pair of side surfaces b disposed opposite to each other in the width direction of the mounted portion 13 are sandwiched in the width direction of the mounted portion 13 by the groove portion 22 and the groove portion 32 (contacting or approaching). Further, in the twisted portion 13b of the mounted portion 13, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 (particularly FIG. 13), a pair of side surfaces a disposed opposite to each other in the thickness direction of the mounted portion 13 are sandwiched in the thickness direction of the mounted portion 13 by the protruding end surfaces of the first protrusion 24 and the second protrusion 34 (contacting or approaching). From the above, in the state where the conductor 1 is completely assembled, the exterior component 3 (= main body portion 20 + cover portion 30) sandwiches the vertical portion 13a and the twisted portion 13b in the mounted portion 13 covered by the exterior component 3 in the thickness direction by the cooperation of the groove inner wall of the groove portion 22 of the main body portion 20, the protruding end surface of the first protrusion 24 of the main body portion 20, the groove inner wall of the groove portion 32 of the cover portion 30, and the protruding end surface of the second protrusion 34 of the cover portion 30. Thereby, also in the modified examples shown in FIGS. 7 to 13, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the mounted portion 13 of the bus bar 2 in the thickness direction (so-called play occurs) in the exterior component 3.

[0038] Here, the features of the embodiment of the conductor 1 according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed in [1] to [4] below, respectively.

[0039] [1] A conductor (1) including a plate-shaped bus bar (2) and an exterior component (3) attached to the bus bar (2), wherein the bus bar (2) has a conductor portion (11) and an insulating coating (I2) covering the conductor portion (11), and at least partially has a mounted portion (13) having a twisted shape in which the bus bar (2) extends while being twisted around the axis of the bus bar (2), and the exterior component (3) A main body portion (20) having a groove portion (22) extending so as to be able to accommodate the attached portion (13) of the bus bar (2), and a cover portion (30) capable of opening and closing the opening of the groove portion (22). Conductor (1).

[0040] According to the conductor having the configuration of [1] above, the bus bar is composed of a conductor portion covered with an insulating coating, and has at least a part of an attached portion having a twisted shape in which the bus bar extends while being twisted around its axis. The attached portion is used for attaching the bus bar to the exterior component. Specifically, the attached portion of the bus bar is accommodated in the groove portion of the exterior component. Thus, since the conductor portion of the bus bar is covered with an insulating coating, it is not necessary to provide an exterior component so as to cover the entire bus bar. Further, the exterior component only needs to have a groove portion capable of accommodating the attached portion having a twisted shape and a cover portion for opening and closing the groove portion, and does not need to have a dedicated shape for each shape (for example, layout) of the bus bar. Therefore, the versatility of the exterior component can be enhanced. On the other hand, in the bus bar, the shape (for example, layout) of the portion other than the attached portion can be designed without considering the presence of the exterior component. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar can be enhanced. Therefore, the conductor of this configuration can achieve both an improvement in the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the bus bar and an improvement in the versatility of the exterior component.

[0041] Furthermore, as another effect, since the attached portion having a twisted shape is accommodated in the exterior component, displacement of the exterior component in the axial direction of the bus bar (so-called positional deviation occurs) can be suppressed compared to the case where a portion of the bus bar extending linearly without having a twisted shape is accommodated in the exterior component. Further, for example, by individually attaching exterior components to each of the positive electrode side bus bar and the negative electrode side bus bar, an unintentional short circuit between the bus bars can be prevented. In addition, miniaturization of the exterior component and improvement in workability of the work of attaching the exterior component to the bus bar can be achieved.

[0042] [2] In the conductor (1) described in [1] above, The exterior component (3) is,[[]] The main body part (20) and the cover part (30) are configured to sandwich the attached part (13) of the bus bar (2) in the thickness direction of the bus bar (2). Conductor (1).

[0043] According to the conductor having the configuration of [2] above, the exterior component is configured such that the main body part and the cover part sandwich the attached part of the bus bar in the thickness direction of the bus bar. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the bus bar from being displaced in the thickness direction (so-called play occurs) in the groove part of the exterior component.

[0044] [3] In the conductor (1) according to [2] above, the groove part (22) of the main body part (20) has a groove inner wall with a shape that curves along one outer surface (side surface a on the lower right side in FIG. 5) in the thickness direction of the attached part (13) corresponding to the twisted shape, the cover part (30) has a cover wall (groove inner wall of the groove part 32) with a shape that curves along the other outer surface (side surface a on the upper left side in FIG. 5) in the thickness direction of the attached part (13) corresponding to the twisted shape, Conductor (1).

[0045] According to the conductor having the configuration of [3] above, the groove inner wall of the main body part and the cover wall of the cover part of the exterior component have a surface shape that curves along the outer surface of the attached part corresponding to the twisted shape of the attached part. Thereby, since the groove inner wall of the main body part and the cover wall are likely to be in surface contact with the bus bar, it is possible to more strongly suppress the bus bar from being displaced in the thickness direction (so-called play occurs) in the groove part of the exterior component.

[0046] [4] In the conductor (1) according to [2] above, the groove part (22) of the main body part (20) A first protrusion (24) that protrudes toward one outer surface in the thickness direction of the attached portion (13) and has a protruding end surface that is curved along the one outer surface (side surface a on the lower right side in FIG. 13) corresponding to the twisted shape. The cover portion (30) A second protrusion (34) that protrudes toward the other outer surface in the thickness direction of the attached portion (13) and has a protruding end surface that is curved along the other outer surface (side surface a on the upper left side in FIG. 13) corresponding to the twisted shape. Conductor (1).

[0047] According to the conductor having the configuration of [4] above, the protruding end surface of the first protrusion provided on the main body portion of the exterior component and the protruding end surface of the second protrusion provided on the cover portion have a surface shape that is curved along the outer surface of the attached portion corresponding to the twisted shape of the attached portion. As a result, the protruding end surfaces of the first protrusion and the second protrusion are likely to be in surface contact with the bus bar, so that the displacement of the bus bar in the thickness direction (so-called rattling) in the groove portion of the exterior component can be more strongly suppressed.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0048] 1 Conductor 2 Bus bar 3 Exterior component 11 Conductor portion 12 Insulation coating 13 Attached portion 20 Main body portion 22 Groove portion 24 Protrusion (first protrusion) 30 Cover portion 31 Lower surface 32 Groove portion 34 Protrusion (second protrusion)

Claims

1. A conductor comprising a plate-shaped bus bar and an exterior component attached to the bus bar, wherein the bus bar has a conductor portion and an insulating coating covering the conductor portion, and at least a part thereof has an attachment portion having a twisted shape in which the bus bar extends while being twisted around its axis, and the exterior component has a main body portion having a groove portion extending so as to be able to accommodate the attachment portion of the bus bar, and a cover portion capable of opening and closing an opening of the groove portion. Conductor.

2. The conductor according to Claim 1, wherein the exterior component is configured such that the attachment portion of the bus bar is sandwiched in the thickness direction of the bus bar by the main body portion and the cover portion. Conductor.

3. The conductor according to Claim 2, wherein the groove portion of the main body portion has a groove inner wall having a shape that curves along one outer surface in the thickness direction of the attachment portion corresponding to the twisted shape, and the cover portion has a cover wall having a shape that curves along the other outer surface in the thickness direction of the attachment portion corresponding to the twisted shape. Conductor.

4. The conductor according to Claim 2, wherein the groove portion of the main body portion has a first protrusion portion having a protruding end surface that protrudes toward one outer surface in the thickness direction of the attachment portion and curves along the one outer surface corresponding to the twisted shape, and the cover portion has a second protrusion portion having a protruding end surface that protrudes toward the other outer surface in the thickness direction of the attachment portion and curves along the other outer surface corresponding to the twisted shape. Conductor.

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