Bus bar module

Abstract

To provide a bus bar module capable of achieving both heat resistance and productivity.SOLUTION: The bus bar module 1 includes a plate-shaped bus bar 10, a heat-resistant sheet material 20 provided so as to cover the bus bar 10, and a case 30 that houses the bus bar 10 and the sheet material 20. The bus bar 10 has a linear portion 10A extending linearly and a bent portion 10A connected to the linear portion 10B and extending in a bent manner. The sheet material 20 has a first sheet part 10A having a shape corresponding to the linear part 10A and covering the linear part 20A, a second sheet part 20A connected to the first sheet part 10B and having a shape corresponding to the bent part 10B and covering the bent part 20B, and a slit part 25 dividing the first sheet part 20A and the second sheet part 20B. Each of the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20B has one portion 21, the other portion 22, and a connecting portion 23, and covers the bus bar 10 in a form of being folded back at the connecting portion 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bus bar module including a plate-shaped bus bar, a heat-resistant sheet material provided so as to cover the bus bar, and a case that houses the bus bar and the sheet material. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, when a metal bus bar is used in an automobile or the like, a bus bar module in which the bus bar is housed in a case has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-190532 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Depending on the environment in which the busbar module is actually used, heat-resistant (fire-resistant) tape may be provided to cover the surface of the busbar. For example, in a busbar module installed in a vehicle's drive battery, the surface of the busbar may be covered with heat-resistant (fire-resistant) tape to prevent the metal surface of the busbar from being easily exposed, even if the busbar is exposed to high temperatures (e.g., several hundred degrees Celsius or higher) due to a malfunction such as thermal runaway of the battery. As an example, such tape may be wrapped spirally around the busbar. However, in this case, the process of wrapping the tape itself is cumbersome, making it difficult to improve the productivity of busbar modules.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a bus bar module that can achieve both heat resistance and productivity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the bus bar module according to the present invention has the following features.

[0007] A bus bar module including: a plate-shaped bus bar; a heat-resistant sheet material provided so as to cover the bus bar; and a case that houses the bus bar and the sheet material, The bus bar is The linear portion has a shape that extends linearly, and a bent portion has a bent shape, The sheet material is a first sheet portion having a shape corresponding to the straight portion and covering the straight portion; a second sheet portion connected to the first sheet portion and having a shape corresponding to the bent portion and covering the bent portion; and a slit portion separating the first sheet portion from the second sheet portion, Each of the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion is a first portion disposed on one plate surface of the bus bar, a second portion disposed on the other plate surface of the bus bar, and a connecting portion connecting the first portion and the second portion, and configured to cover the bus bar in a folded-back form at the connecting portion; It is a busbar module. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the busbar module of the present invention, the heat-resistant sheet material includes a first sheet portion having a shape corresponding to the straight portions of the busbar and covering the straight portions, a second sheet portion connected to the first sheet portion and having a shape corresponding to the bent portions of the busbar and covering the bent portions, and a slit portion separating the first sheet portion from the second sheet portion. Each of the first and second sheet portions has a first portion disposed on one plate surface of the busbar, a second portion disposed on the other plate surface of the busbar, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second portions, and is configured to cover the busbar by being folded back at the connecting portion. Thus, when attaching the sheet material to the busbar, it is sufficient to first fold back the first and second sheet portions corresponding to the straight portions and bent portions of the busbar at the connecting portion, and then arrange the first and second portions to cover the one and other plate surfaces of the busbar. Furthermore, because the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion are separated by a slit, folding back one of the first and second sheet portions prevents the other from being accidentally folded back, allowing each of the first and second sheet portions to be folded back properly as designed. This allows for superior workability in applying the sheet material compared to conventional tape wrapping, and the bus bar with the sheet material attached can be easily housed in a case because the sheet material layer does not become excessively thick. Therefore, the bus bar module of the present invention achieves both heat resistance and productivity.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention set forth below, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bus bar module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the busbar module shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a top view for explaining a plurality of linear sheet portions constituting the sheet material shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a top view showing a state in which each of the linear sheet portions shown in FIG. 5 is attached to a bus bar. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of attaching the straight sheet portion to the bus bar. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the straight sheet portion shown in FIG. 7 is attached to a bus bar. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a first diagram for explaining a procedure for providing a sheet material so as to cover the bus bar. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a second diagram for explaining the procedure for providing the sheet material so as to cover the bus bar. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a third diagram for explaining the procedure for providing a sheet material so as to cover the bus bar. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a fourth diagram for explaining the procedure for providing a sheet material so as to cover the bus bar. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] <Embodiment> A busbar module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The busbar module 1 shown in Fig. 1 is installed in an automobile or the like and fixed to the body of the automobile or the like for use. As shown in Fig. 2, the busbar module 1 includes a plate-shaped busbar 10, a heat-resistant sheet material 20 provided to cover the busbar 10, and a case 30 that houses the busbar 10 and the sheet material 20.

[0012] For ease of explanation, the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" are defined below as shown in FIG. 1 and elsewhere. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "upper-lower direction" are perpendicular to one another. The front-rear direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the busbar module 1, and the upper-lower direction coincides with the thickness direction of the busbars 10 that constitute the busbar module 1. Note that these directions are defined merely for ease of explanation, and do not necessarily correspond to, for example, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and upper-lower direction of an automobile or the like when the busbar module 1 is mounted on the automobile or the like. The configuration of each component that constitutes the busbar module 1 will be described below in order.

[0013] First, the busbar 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the busbar 10 has a long plate shape that extends while bending three-dimensionally along a wiring path according to the specifications of an automobile or the like. The busbar 10 has a constant width dimension in the extension direction and the width direction, which is perpendicular to the extension direction and the plate thickness direction. The busbar 10 is manufactured by subjecting a single metal flat plate to processes such as punching and bending. As shown in FIG. 5, the busbar 10 includes a plurality of linear portions 10A that extend linearly and a plurality of bent portions 10B that extend in a bent manner. The linear portions 10A have different lengths in the extension direction. A fastening portion 10a with a bolt hole formed therein is provided at each of both ends of the busbar 10 in the extension direction. The busbar 10 includes, as its bending and extending portions, a portion that bends and extends in a direction (within the plate surface of the busbar 10) along the plate surface of the busbar 10 (the upper surface 11 and the lower surface 12 shown in FIG. 3; a plane) and a portion that bends and extends in the plate thickness direction of the busbar 10 (a direction intersecting the plate surface of the busbar 10). The bending portion 10B refers to the portion that bends and extends in a direction along the plate surface of the busbar 10.

[0014] Next, the sheet material 20 will be described. The sheet material 20 is made of a flexible, heat-resistant material. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet material 20 is provided to cover the entire surface of the bus bar 10 except for a pair of fastening portions 10a located at both ends of the bus bar 10 in the extension direction, thereby preventing the bus bar 10 from being exposed to an excessively high temperature environment. In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet material 20 is configured as a three-layer laminate in which an adhesive layer 20a, a heat-resistant layer 20b, and a base layer 20c are laminated in this order from the side to be attached to the bus bar 10 (the lower side in FIG. 4). The overall configuration of the sheet material 20 and the procedure for attaching it to the bus bar 10 will be described in detail later.

[0015] Next, the case 30 will be described. The case 30 serves to house and protect the bus bar 10 and the sheet material 20 covering the bus bar 10. The case 30 is a resin molded body, and as shown in FIG. 2, includes an upper case 31 and a lower case 32. Each of the upper case 31 and the lower case 32 has an elongated shape that extends while bending three-dimensionally, following the elongated plate-like shape of the bus bar 10 that extends while bending three-dimensionally. The upper case 31 has a cross-sectional shape made up of an upper plate portion and a pair of side plate portions, and the lower case 32 has a cross-sectional shape made up of a lower plate portion and a pair of side plate portions. Upper case 31 and lower case 32 are arranged so as to sandwich busbar 10, on which sheet material 20 is provided, from above and below, and multiple locking portions 33 provided on the side plate portion of upper case 31 are engaged with multiple locking portions 34 provided on the side plate portion of lower case 32, thereby achieving a state in which case 30 houses busbar 10 and sheet material 20 covering busbar 10. As a result, busbar module 1 shown in FIG. 1 is completed.

[0016] Next, the overall configuration of the sheet material 20 and the procedure for attaching it to the bus bar 10 will be described. As shown in Fig. 5, the sheet material 20 has a plurality of separate straight sheet portions 20A each having a shape corresponding to each of the plurality of straight portions 10A of the bus bar 10 and covering the straight portions 10A. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the sheet material 20 is made up of four straight sheet portions 20A each having a shape corresponding to each of the four straight portions 10A of the bus bar 10.

[0017] Each of the four straight sheet portions 20A is, in principle, rectangular in shape and has the same length as the corresponding straight portion 10A and a constant width L (see FIG. 5). However, of the four straight sheet portions 20A, each of the straight sheet portions 20A1 and 20A2 adjacent to the bent portion 10B has an extended sheet portion 20B at its end portion while maintaining the constant width L so as to cover the bent portion 10B. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the straight sheet portion 20A1 has extended sheet portions 20B1 and 20B2 at both ends so as to cover the bent portions 10B1 and 10B2, respectively, and the straight sheet portion 20A2 has extended sheet portions 20B3 and 20B4 at both ends so as to cover the bent portions 10B3 and 10B4, respectively. Each of the straight sheet portions 20A1, 20A2 further includes a slit portion 25 that separates the straight sheet portion 20A from each of the extension sheet portions 20B, and a slit portion 26 that separates the extension sheet portion 20B into one portion 21 and another portion 22, which will be described later. Since each of the four straight sheet portions 20A has a constant width L (the same width dimension), portions having the same length as each of the four straight portions 10A are cut in order from one end in the longitudinal direction of a single elongated rectangular sheet material having the constant width L, and the slit portions 25, 26 are formed, thereby obtaining the four straight sheet portions 20A.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, each of the four straight sheet portions 20A is provided to cover the corresponding straight portion 10A of the busbar 10 by being folded and attached along the surface of the corresponding straight portion 10A. At this time, for the straight sheet portions 20A1 and 20A2 having the extension sheet portion 20B, the extension sheet portion 20B is provided to cover the corresponding bent portion 10B of the busbar 10 by being folded and attached along the surface of the corresponding bent portion 10B. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the straight sheet portion 20A (including the extension sheet portion 20B) has a rectangular one portion 21 to be disposed on the upper surface 11 (one plate surface) of the busbar 10, a rectangular other portion 22 to be disposed on the lower surface 12 (the other plate surface) of the busbar 10, and a rectangular connecting portion 23 connecting the one portion 21 and the other portion 22. In the example shown in FIG. 7 , the boundary between the connecting portion 23 and the one portion 21 is folded, and the boundary between the connecting portion 23 and the other portion 22 is also folded. With this in mind, the connecting portion 23 (its adhesive layer 20 a) is attached to one side surface 13 of the busbar 10, the one portion 21 (its adhesive layer 20 a) is attached to the top surface 11 of the busbar 10, and the other portion 22 (its adhesive layer 20 a) is attached to the bottom surface 12 of the busbar 10. In the example shown in FIG. 7 , the length of the one portion 21 is shorter than the width dimension of the busbar 10, and the length of the other portion 22 is longer than the width dimension of the busbar 10. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8 , the excess portion of the other portion 22 that protrudes from the bottom surface 12 is attached while being folded so as to follow the surfaces of the other side surface 14 and part of the top surface 11 of the busbar 10, and the extending ends of the one portion 21 and the other portion 22 are stacked together on part of the top surface 11 of the busbar 10, forming a stacked portion 24.

[0019] More specifically, for example, first, as shown in Fig. 9, the other portion 22 of the straight sheet portion 20A (including the extended sheet portion 20B) in a flat state is attached to the lower surface 12 of the busbar 10. Next, as shown in Fig. 10, the excess portion of the other portion 22 of the straight sheet portion 20A is folded back toward the upper surface 11 of the straight portion 10A, and the excess portion of the other portion 22 of the extended sheet portion 20B is folded back toward the upper surface 11 of the bent portion 10B (see the black arrows in Fig. 10). At this time, because the straight sheet portion 20A and the extended sheet portion 20B are separated by the slit portion 25, even if the other portion 22 of the straight sheet portion 20A is folded back, the extended sheet portion 20B is unlikely to be folded back in error in conjunction with the folding back of the other portion 22. Furthermore, because the one portion 21 and the other portion 22 of the extension sheet portion 20B are separated by the slit portion 26, even if the other portion 22 of the extension sheet portion 20B is folded back, the one portion 21 of the extension sheet portion 20B is unlikely to be folded back inadvertently in conjunction with the folding back of the other portion 22 of the extension sheet portion 20B. Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the excess portions of the straight sheet portion 20A and the one portion 21 of the extension sheet portion 20B are folded back toward the upper surface 11 of the straight portion 10A and the bent portion 10B, respectively (see the black arrows in FIG. 11). Finally, the excess portions of the one portion 21 of the extension sheet portion 20B are folded back toward the lower surface 12 of the bent portion 10B (see the black arrows in FIG. 12).

[0020] As described above, each of the multiple straight sheet portions 20A (including the extended sheet portion 20B) is attached to the bus bar 10 in a folded form at the connecting portion 23 so as to cover the bus bar 10, so that the sheet material 20 made up of the multiple straight sheet portions 20A is configured to cover the bus bar 10 continuously in the extension direction of the bus bar 10, as shown in Figure 6.

[0021] <Actions and Effects> In the busbar module 1 according to this embodiment, the heat-resistant sheet material 20 includes a first sheet portion 20A having a shape corresponding to the straight portion 10A of the busbar 10 and covering the straight portion 10A, a second sheet portion 20B connected to the first sheet portion 20A and having a shape corresponding to the bent portion 10B of the busbar 10 and covering the bent portion 10B, and a slit portion 25 separating the first sheet portion 20A from the second sheet portion 20B. Each of the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20B includes a first portion 21 disposed on one plate surface 11 of the busbar 10, a second portion 22 disposed on the other plate surface 12 of the busbar 10, and a connecting portion 23 connecting the first portion 21 and the second portion 22, and is configured to cover the busbar 10 in a folded-back configuration at the connecting portion 23. As a result, when the sheet material 20 is provided on the busbar 10, the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20B corresponding to the straight portion 10A and the bent portion 10B of the busbar 10 are folded back at the connecting portion 23 in advance, and the one portion 21 and the other portion 22 are arranged to cover the one plate surface 11 and the other plate surface 12 of the busbar 10. Furthermore, because the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20B are separated by the slit portion 25, folding back one of the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20B is unlikely to result in the other being folded back in erroneous association with the folding back. This allows each of the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20B to be folded back appropriately as designed. Therefore, compared to conventional tape wrapping, the sheet material 20 is more easily provided, and the busbar 10 provided with the sheet material 20 is easier to accommodate in the case 30 because the layer of the sheet material 20 does not become excessively thick. Therefore, the bus bar module 1 according to this embodiment can achieve both heat resistance and productivity.

[0022] <Other aspects> It should be noted 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 modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0023] 8, each of the linear sheet portions 20A is provided on the busbar 10 so that the extending ends of the one portion 21 and the other portion 22 are laminated together on a portion of the upper surface 11 of the busbar 10 to form a laminated portion 24. Alternatively, at least one of the linear sheet portions 20A may be provided so that the adhesive layer 20a on the end of the one portion 21 and the adhesive layer 20a on the end of the other portion 22 are adhered to each other to cover the busbar 10.

[0024] Here, the features of the embodiment of the busbar module 1 according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3].

[0025] [1] A busbar module (1) including a plate-shaped busbar (10), a heat-resistant sheet material (20) provided to cover the busbar (10), and a case (30) that houses the busbar (10) and the sheet material (20), The bus bar (10) is The device has a linear portion (10A) having a shape extending linearly, and a bent portion (10B) connected to the linear portion (10A) and having a bent shape, The sheet material (20) is a first sheet portion (20A) having a shape corresponding to the straight portion (10A) and covering the straight portion (10A); a second sheet portion (20B) connected to the first sheet portion (20A) and having a shape corresponding to the bent portion (10B) and covering the bent portion (10B); and a slit portion (25) separating the first sheet portion (20A) from the second sheet portion (20B), Each of the first sheet portion (20A) and the second sheet portion (20B) is The bus bar (10) has one portion (21) arranged on one plate surface (11) of the bus bar (10), another portion (22) arranged on the other plate surface (12) of the bus bar (10), and a connecting portion (23) connecting the one portion (21) and the other portion (22), and is configured to cover the bus bar (10) in a folded-back form at the connecting portion (23). Busbar module (1).

[0026] According to the busbar module having the configuration [1] above, the heat-resistant sheet material includes a first sheet portion having a shape corresponding to the straight portions of the busbar and covering the straight portions, a second sheet portion connected to the first sheet portion and having a shape corresponding to the bent portions of the busbar and covering the bent portions, and a slit portion separating the first sheet portion from the second sheet portion. Each of the first and second sheet portions includes a first portion disposed on one plate surface of the busbar, a second portion disposed on the other plate surface of the busbar, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second portions, and is configured to cover the busbar by being folded back at the connecting portion. Thus, when attaching the sheet material to the busbar, the first and second sheet portions corresponding to the straight and bent portions of the busbar can be folded back at the connecting portion in advance, so that the first and second portions cover the one and other plate surfaces of the busbar. Furthermore, because the first and second sheet portions are separated by a slit, folding back one of the first and second sheet portions prevents the other from being accidentally folded back, allowing each of the first and second sheet portions to be folded back properly as designed. This allows for superior workability in applying the sheet material compared to conventional tape wrapping, and the bus bar with the sheet material attached can be easily housed in a case because the sheet material layer does not become excessively thick. Therefore, the bus bar module of this configuration achieves both heat resistance and productivity.

[0027] [2] In the busbar module (1) described in [1] above, At least one of the first sheet portion (20A) and the second sheet portion (20B) The end of the one portion (21) and the end of the other portion (22) are configured to cover the bus bar (10) in a state where they overlap each other on the one plate surface (12). Busbar module (1).

[0028] According to the bus bar module having the configuration [2] above, the bus bar can be surrounded by the sheet material and covered without any gaps.

[0029] [3] In the busbar module (1) described in [1] above, The sheet material has an adhesive layer (20a) for fixing the sheet material to the bus bar (10), At least one of the first sheet portion (20A) and the second sheet portion (20B) The adhesive layer (20a) on the end of the one portion (21) and the adhesive layer (20a) on the end of the other portion (22) are configured to cover the bus bar (10) in a state where they are adhered to each other. Busbar module (1).

[0030] According to the bus bar module having the configuration [3] above, the sheet material can be attached to the bus bar by a simple operation of sandwiching the bus bar between the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion of the sheet material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Busbar module 10 Bus Bar 10A straight section 10B Bend part 11 Top surface (one of the board surfaces) 12 Bottom surface (other plate surface) 20 Sheet material 20A Straight seat section (first seat section) 20B Extension seat part (second seat part) 21 One side 22 Other part 23 Connecting part 25 Slit section 30 cases

Claims

1. A bus bar module including: a plate-shaped bus bar; a heat-resistant sheet material provided so as to cover the bus bar; and a case that houses the bus bar and the sheet material, The bus bar is The linear portion has a shape that extends linearly, and a bent portion has a bent shape, The sheet material is a first sheet portion having a shape corresponding to the straight portion and covering the straight portion; a second sheet portion connected to the first sheet portion and having a shape corresponding to the bent portion and covering the bent portion; and a slit portion separating the first sheet portion from the second sheet portion, Each of the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion is a first portion disposed on one plate surface of the bus bar, a second portion disposed on the other plate surface of the bus bar, and a connecting portion connecting the first portion and the second portion, and configured to cover the bus bar in a folded-back form at the connecting portion; Busbar module.

2. The busbar module according to claim 1, At least one of the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion is The end of the one portion and the end of the other portion are configured to cover the bus bar in a state where they overlap each other on the one plate surface. Busbar module.

3. The busbar module according to claim 1, the sheet material has an adhesive layer for fixing the sheet material to the bus bar, At least one of the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion is The adhesive layer on the end of the one portion and the adhesive layer on the end of the other portion are configured to cover the bus bar in a state of being adhered to each other. Busbar module.

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