Connector

Abstract

To provide a bus bar arrangement structure capable of absorbing tolerances and improving assembly.SOLUTION: In a bus bar arrangement structure 1 including multiple bus bars 9 and connecting sections 11 that connect adjacent bus bars 9, 9 and electrically connect adjacent bus bars 9, 9, the connecting sections 11 are provided such that an angle θ formed between adjacent bus bars 9, 9 is variable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bus bar arrangement structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a bus bar arrangement structure has been known that includes a plurality of bus bars and a connecting portion that connects adjacent bus bars and electrically connects the adjacent bus bars (see Patent Document 1). In this bus bar arrangement structure, the connecting portion that connects adjacent bus bars is formed by laser welding. The joining surfaces of the laser-welded bus bars form tolerance-absorbing portions with different widths. In this bus bar arrangement structure, the manufacturing tolerance that occurs when an arrangement shape is formed using a single continuous bus bar can be absorbed by varying the positions of the laser-welded joining surfaces. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-23709 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the bus bar arrangement structure of Patent Document 1, if manufacturing tolerances occur when forming an arrangement shape using a single continuous bus bar, multiple bus bars must be laser-joined each time to accommodate the manufacturing tolerances. This requires many work steps before arranging the bus bars, such as the work of laser-joining multiple bus bars, which reduces assembly ease.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the conventional technology, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bus bar arrangement structure that can accommodate tolerances and improve assembly ease. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The bus bar arrangement structure of this embodiment comprises a plurality of bus bars and a connecting portion that connects adjacent bus bars and electrically connects the adjacent bus bars, and the connecting portion is configured to change the angle formed between the adjacent bus bars. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a bus bar arrangement structure that can accommodate tolerances and improve assembly efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a cross section of a connector having a bus bar arrangement structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the bus bar arrangement structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the bus bar arrangement structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a front view showing another example of the bus bar arrangement structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a front view showing another example of the bus bar arrangement structure according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The bus bar arrangement structure according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of convenience and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1 , a bus bar arrangement structure 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a vehicle charging unit to which a charging connector (not shown) of a charging facility for an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or the like is fitted. The vehicle charging unit includes a connector 3 to which the charging connector is fitted. The connector 3 has a housing 5 made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and terminals 7 made of a conductive material housed in the housing 5. The terminals 7 are electrically connected to a power source (not shown) such as a rechargeable battery or a battery mounted on the vehicle via a bus bar 9. When the charging connector is fitted into the housing 5, the terminals 7 are electrically connected to mating terminals (not shown) of the charging connector, thereby charging the power source. In recent years, power sources mounted on vehicles have become increasingly large-capacity to improve driving range. High-capacity power sources require a long charging time, and therefore, it has been considered to use a bus bar 9 to pass a large current in order to shorten the charging time. The bus bar 9 has high rigidity, making it difficult to absorb tolerances such as manufacturing tolerances and assembly tolerances that occur between the connector 3 and the power source due to elastic deformation of the bus bar 9. Therefore, the bus bar arrangement structure 1 according to this embodiment is designed to accommodate the tolerance even if the bus bar 9 does not elastically deform.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bus bar arrangement structure 1 includes a bus bar 9 and a connecting portion 11.

[0012] The bus bar 9 is made of a conductive material such as copper or aluminum, and is formed in the shape of a plate having a rectangular cross section. A plurality of bus bars 9 (three in this example) are used.

[0013] Of the multiple bus bars 9, the bus bar 9 located on the power supply side (the bus bar 9 located on the left side in FIG. 1 ) has an electrical connection portion 13 consisting of a through hole at its end on the power supply side. For example, a mating terminal (not shown) electrically connected to the power supply is placed on top of electrical connection portion 13 of bus bar 9. The bus bar 9 and the mating terminal are electrically connected to each other by, for example, inserting a bolt 17 through electrical connection portion 13 and the mating terminal and fastening a nut (not shown) to the end of bolt 17.

[0014] Of the multiple bus bars 9, the bus bar 9 arranged on the connector 3 side (the bus bar 9 arranged on the right side in FIG. 1 ) is bent via a bent portion 15. Note that in the bus bar 9 shown in FIG. 1 , the bent portion 15 is bent so as to be twisted in the thickness direction, but in the bus bars 9 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bent portion 15 is not twisted for the sake of schematic illustration. An electrical connection portion 13 consisting of a through hole is provided on the end side of the bus bar 9 on the connector 3 side. The connector 3 side of the bus bar 9 is arranged in a portion of the housing 5 where the terminal 7 is located. For example, a bolt 17 passing through the electrical connection portion 13 is fastened to the terminal 7 of the bus bar 9 arranged in the housing 5, thereby electrically connecting the bus bar 9 and the terminal 7.

[0015] Among the multiple bus bars 9, the bus bar 9 located in the center is connected to the adjacent bus bars 9, 9 via connecting portions 11 and electrically connected. Therefore, the power source and the connector 3 are electrically connected via the multiple bus bars 9. Here, a large current flows through the bus bars 9, and thus the bus bars 9 generate a large amount of heat, which may affect peripheral components and the reliability of the electrical connection. Therefore, the bus bar 9 located in the center is designed so that its largest cross-sectional area perpendicular to the current flow direction (cross-sectional area when cut along the thickness direction) is larger than the largest cross-sectional area perpendicular to the current flow direction of the other bus bars 9. Therefore, the bus bar 9 located in the center has a larger heat capacity than the other bus bars 9, and its temperature does not rise as much as the other bus bars 9, and it can absorb the heat generated by the other bus bars 9. By increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​at least one of the multiple bus bars 9, the bus bar 9 with the larger cross-sectional area can absorb the heat generated by the other bus bars 9, thereby suppressing the temperature rise throughout the multiple bus bars 9. Due to manufacturing tolerances, assembly tolerances, etc., the electrical connection portions 13 at both ends of the multiple bus bars 9 arranged between the power supply and the connector 3 may not be properly positioned in the mating terminals on the power supply side or the connector 3. Therefore, the connecting portions 11 connecting adjacent bus bars 9, 9 absorb the tolerances, allowing the electrical connection portions 13 to be properly positioned in the mating terminals on the power supply side or the connector 3.

[0016] The connecting portion 11 is provided in a portion where a plurality of bus bars 9 are arranged overlapping each other. The connecting portion 11 has a shaft portion 19 provided in one of the adjacent bus bars 9, 9, and a hole portion 21 provided in the other bus bar 9. Here, the shaft portion 19 is provided on each end side of the bus bar 9 arranged in the center, and the hole portion 21 is provided in each of the bus bars 9 arranged on both sides. The shaft portion 19 protrudes from the outer surface of the bus bar 9 toward the overlapping bus bar 9. The hole portion 21 is formed to pass through the bus bar 9 so that the shaft portion 19 can be inserted therethrough.

[0017] When the shaft portion 19 is inserted through the hole portion 21, the bus bars 9 can rotate around the shaft portion 19, adjusting the angle θ between the adjacent bus bars 9. If there are manufacturing or assembly tolerances between the power supply and the connector 3, the angle θ between the adjacent bus bars 9 can be adjusted using the connecting portion 11 to accommodate these tolerances. This allows the electrical connection portion 13 of the bus bar 9 to be properly positioned in the power supply's mating terminal or the connector 3. Pre-connecting multiple bus bars 9 via such connecting portions 11 eliminates the need to connect multiple bus bars 9 each time to accommodate the tolerances, improving assembly. Additionally, since the connecting portion 11 includes the shaft portion 19 and the hole portion 21, the structure of the connecting portion 11 is simple and does not become complicated, allowing the tolerances to be accommodated. The outer surface of the shaft portion 19 is formed in a threaded shape, and a nut (not shown) is fastened to the end portion inserted through the hole portion 21, thereby maintaining the contact state of the overlapping bus bars 9, 9.

[0018] Such a bus bar arrangement structure 1 includes a plurality of bus bars 9 and a connecting portion 11 that connects adjacent bus bars 9, 9 and electrically connects the adjacent bus bars 9, 9. The connecting portion 11 is provided so that the angle θ formed between the adjacent bus bars 9, 9 can be changed.

[0019] When tolerances such as manufacturing tolerances and assembly tolerances occur in the area where the multiple bus bars 9 are arranged, the tolerances can be absorbed by varying the angle θ between adjacent bus bars 9, 9 at the connecting portion 11. If the multiple bus bars 9 are connected in advance via such connecting portion 11, there is no need to connect the multiple bus bars 9 each time in accordance with the tolerances, and assemblability can be improved.

[0020] Therefore, in such a bus bar arrangement structure 1, tolerances can be accommodated, and assembly can be improved.

[0021] Furthermore, the connecting portion 11 has a shaft portion 19 provided on one of the adjacent bus bars 9, 9, and a hole portion 21 provided on the other bus bar and through which the shaft portion 19 is inserted.

[0022] Therefore, the structure of the connecting portion 11 does not become complicated, and tolerances can be absorbed with a simple structure.

[0023] At least one of the bus bars 9 is set to have a larger cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of current flow than the other bus bars 9.

[0024] Therefore, the heat generated in the other bus bars 9 can be received by the bus bars 9 having a large cross-sectional area, and the temperature rise in the plurality of bus bars 9 as a whole can be suppressed.

[0025] Here, the connecting portion 11 can be applied as long as there are at least two bus bars 9. For example, as in the bus bar arrangement structure 101 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , two bus bars 9 are each provided with an electrical connection portion 13 that is electrically connected to an electrical component such as a power source or a connector. The electrical connection portion 13 of the right bus bar 9 is a shaft portion 19, and a nut is fastened when the shaft portion 19 is inserted and the mating terminal is overlapped. Adjacent bus bars 9, 9 are connected and electrically connected via the connecting portion 11. The connecting portion 11 has the shaft portion 19 provided on one bus bar 9 and a hole portion 21 provided on the other bus bar 9. The connecting portion 11 is provided so that the angle θ formed between adjacent bus bars 9, 9 can be changed.

[0026] Even with such bus bar arrangement structure 101, if tolerances occur between electrical components, the tolerances can be absorbed by varying the angle θ between adjacent bus bars 9, 9 at the connecting portion 11. If multiple bus bars 9 are connected in advance via such connecting portion 11, there is no need to connect multiple bus bars 9 each time to accommodate the tolerances, and assemblability can be improved.

[0027] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

[0028] For example, in the bus bar arrangement structure according to the present embodiment, the number of bus bars is three or two, but the number of bus bars is not limited to three, and may be four or more. In addition, the bus bars may be formed in a straight line or in a bent line.

[0029] Furthermore, although the multiple bus bars are arranged between the power supply and the connector, this is not limited thereto, and they may be arranged between any electrical components, for example, between the power supply and the device, or between the devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1,101 Busbar arrangement structure 9 Bus Bar 11 Connecting part 19 Shaft 21 Hole θ angle

Claims

1. A plurality of bus bars; a coupling portion that couples adjacent bus bars and electrically connects the adjacent bus bars; Equipped with The bus bar arrangement structure, wherein the connecting portion is provided so that an angle formed between adjacent bus bars can be changed.

2. The bus bar arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion has a shaft portion provided on one of the adjacent bus bars and a hole portion provided on the other of the adjacent bus bars, through which the shaft portion is inserted.

3. The bus bar arrangement structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of bus bars has a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the current flow direction that is set to be larger than the other bus bars.

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