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 first and second linear portions 10A, 10A extending linearly, and a bent portion 10B connecting the first and second linear portions 10A, 10A and extending in a bent manner. The sheet material 20 has a first sheet part 10A for covering the first linear part 20A, a second sheet part 10A for covering the second linear part 20A, and a third sheet part 20A for regulating the shape of at least one of the first and second sheet part 20A and 20B as separate bodies. At least one of the first and second sheet parts 20A, 20A has a shape in which an end part 25 is extended so as to cover the bent part 10B, and is regulated by the third sheet part 20B so that the end part 25 is housed in the case 30.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 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 assembled to a drive battery of an automobile, 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 a first linear portion and a second linear portion each having a shape extending linearly, and a bent portion connecting the first linear portion and the second linear portion and having a bent shape, The sheet material is a first sheet portion having a shape corresponding to the first straight portion and covering the first straight portion, a second sheet portion having a shape corresponding to the second straight portion and covering the second straight portion, and a third sheet portion that regulates the shape of at least one of the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion, At least one of the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion is the at least one end has an extended shape so as to cover the bent portion, and the shape of the end is restricted by the third sheet portion so that the end is accommodated in the case; 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 first and second sheet portions that have shapes corresponding to and cover the first and second linear portions of the busbar, and a third sheet portion that regulates the shape of at least one of the first and second sheet portions. At least one of the first and second sheet portions has a shape in which at least one end is extended to cover the bent portion. The third sheet portion regulates the shape of at least one end so that the at least one end is accommodated in the case. Each of the first and second sheet portions has one portion that is disposed on one plate surface of the busbar, another portion that is disposed on the other plate surface of the busbar, and a connecting portion that connects the one portion and the other portion, and is configured to cover the busbar by being folded back at the connecting portion. This allows the sheet material to be attached to the bus bar by first preparing the first, second, and third sheet portions having the above-described shapes. When attaching the sheet material to the bus bar, the first and second sheet portions are folded back at the connecting portions, respectively, so that the first and second portions cover the first and second plate surfaces of the bus bar, respectively, and the third sheet portion controls the shape of at least one of the first and second sheet portions at the bent portion. In other words, the sheet material can be attached to the bus bar by the simple process of folding the sheet material. This provides superior workability in attaching the sheet material compared to conventional tape wrapping, and prevents the sheet material layer from becoming 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 clearer by reading the detailed description of the invention below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a busbar 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 and a plurality of restricting sheet portions that constitute 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 and the restricting 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. 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 bent portions 10B connect two adjacent linear portions 10A in the extension direction of the busbar 10. 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 a procedure for attaching the sheet material 20 to the bus bar 10 will be described. As shown in Fig. 5, the sheet material 20 has, as separate bodies, straight sheet portions 20A that have a shape corresponding to the straight portions 10A of the bus bar 10 and cover the straight portions 10A, and restricting sheet portions 20B that restrict the shape of extension portions 25 (described later) of the straight sheet portions 20A. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the sheet material 20 is composed of eight straight sheet portions 20A that have shapes corresponding to the eight straight portions 10A of the bus bar 10, respectively, and four restricting sheet portions 20B.

[0017] Each of the eight straight sheet portions 20A is, in principle, rectangular in shape, having the same length as the corresponding straight portion 10A and a constant width L (see FIG. 5). However, among the eight straight sheet portions 20A, the straight sheet portion 20A whose corresponding straight portion 10A is adjacent to the bent portion 10B has an extension portion 25 that extends from its end portion while maintaining the constant width L so as to cover the bent portion 10B. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, straight sheet portion 20A1 has an extension portion 25 at one end portion so as to cover bent portion 10B1, straight sheet portion 20A2 has extension portions 25 at both ends so as to cover bent portions 10B1 and 10B2, straight sheet portion 20A3 has extension portions 25 at both ends so as to cover bent portions 10B2 and 10B3, and straight sheet portion 20A4 has an extension portion 25 at one end portion so as to cover bent portion 10B3. Since each of the eight straight sheet portions 20A has a constant width L (same width dimension), the eight straight sheet portions 20A are obtained by sequentially cutting portions having the same length as each of the eight straight sheet portions 10A from one end of a single elongated sheet material having an elongated rectangular shape with a constant width L in the longitudinal direction.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, each of the eight straight sheet portions 20A is provided so as to cover the corresponding straight portion 10A of the busbar 10 by being folded and attached so as to follow the surface of the corresponding straight portion 10A. At this time, for the straight sheet portion 20A having an extension portion 25, the extension portion 25 is provided so as to cover the corresponding bent portion 10B of the busbar 10 by being folded and attached so as to follow the surface of the corresponding bent portion 10B. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the straight sheet portion 20A 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. 7, the linear sheet portion 20A is placed on the side of the busbar 10 in a flat state with the one portion 21 and the other portion 22 located on the upper and lower sides, respectively, and with the exposed surface of the adhesive layer 20a facing one side surface 13 of the busbar 10. Next, the connecting portion 23 (its adhesive layer 20a) is attached to one side surface 13 of the busbar 10. Next, the boundary between the connecting portion 23 and the one portion 21 is folded to attach the one portion 21 (its adhesive layer 20a) to the upper surface 11 of the busbar 10, and the boundary between the connecting portion 23 and the other portion 22 is folded to attach the other portion 22 (its adhesive layer 20a) to the lower surface 12 of the busbar 10. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the lengths of both the one portion 21 and the other portion 22 are longer than the width dimension of the busbar 10. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, the excess portion of one part 21 that extends beyond the upper surface 11 is folded and attached so as to fit along the surface of the other side surface 14 of the busbar 10, and the excess portion of the other part 22 that extends beyond the lower surface 12 is folded and attached so as to fit along the surface of the other side surface 14 of the busbar 10, and the extended ends of one part 21 and the other part 22 are stacked together in a portion of the other side surface 14 of the busbar 10 to form a laminated part 24.

[0019] As described above, each of the linear sheet portions 20A is attached to the busbar 10 so as to cover the busbar 10 while being folded back at the connecting portions 23. This results in the sheet material 20, which is made up of the linear sheet portions 20A, being configured to cover the busbar 10 continuously in the extension direction of the busbar 10. However, at this stage, as shown in FIG. 9 , the corners of the extending ends of the extension portions 25 that cover each of the bending portions 10B of the busbar 10 significantly protrude from the peripheral bending portion of the bending portion 10B. In the example shown in FIG. 9 , the corner z of the extension portion 25 belonging to the linear sheet portion 20A1 significantly protrudes from the outer peripheral bending portion of the bending portion 10B1. Therefore, when the assembly of the busbar module 1 shown in FIG. 1 is completed, a problem may occur, such as the corners protruding from the case 30. To address this problem, in this example, as shown in Figures 6 and 10, at each of the multiple bent portions 10B of the busbar 10, a slender rectangular restricting sheet portion 20B is attached by wrapping around the outer periphery of the extended portion 25 so as to further cover the portions of the extended portion 25 that cover the outer and inner peripheral bent portions of the bent portion 10B. As a result, as shown in Figures 6 and 10, at each of the multiple bent portions 10B of the busbar 10, the shape of the extended portion 25 is restricted by the restricting sheet portion 20B, thereby reducing the amount of protrusion of the corners of the extended portion 25 from the peripheral bent portion of the bent portion 10B, and solving the problem of the corners of the extended portion 25 protruding from the case 30. As a result, the attachment of the sheet material 20 to the busbar 10 is completed as shown in Figure 6.

[0020] <Actions and Effects> In the busbar module 1 according to this embodiment, the heat-resistant sheet material 20 includes a first sheet portion 20A and a second sheet portion 20A, which have shapes corresponding to the first straight portion 10A and the second straight portion 10A of the busbar 10 and cover the straight portion 10A, 10A, respectively, as separate bodies, and a third sheet portion 20B, which regulates the shape of at least one of the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20A. At least one of the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20A has a shape in which at least one end portion 25 extends to cover the bent portion 10B. The third sheet portion 20B regulates the shape of at least one end portion 25 so that the at least one end portion 25 can be accommodated in the case 30. Each of the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20A has 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 other portion 22, and is configured to cover the busbar 10 in a folded-back form at the connecting portion 23. Thus, when providing the sheet material 20 to the busbar 10, the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20A corresponding to the first straight portion 10A and the second straight portion 10A of the busbar 10 are folded back at the connecting portion 23 in advance, so that the first portion 21 and the other portion 22 cover the one plate surface 11 and the other plate surface 12 of the busbar 10, and at least one of the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20A covers the bent portion 10B, and the third sheet portion 20B regulates the shapes of the first sheet portion 20A and the second sheet portion 20A at the bent portion 10B. Therefore, compared to conventional tape wrapping, the workability of providing the sheet material 20 is superior, and since the layer of the sheet material 20 does not become excessively thick, the bus bar 10 provided with the sheet material 20 can be easily accommodated in the case 30. Therefore, the bus bar module 1 according to this embodiment can achieve both heat resistance and productivity.

[0021] <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.

[0022] 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 [4].

[0023] [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 a first linear portion (10A) and a second linear portion (10A) each having a shape extending linearly, and a bent portion (10B) connecting the first linear portion (10A) and the second linear portion (10A) and having a bent shape, The sheet material (20) is a first sheet portion (20A) having a shape corresponding to the first straight portion (10A) and covering the first straight portion (10A), a second sheet portion (20A) having a shape corresponding to the second straight portion (10A) and covering the second straight portion (10A), and a third sheet portion (20B) that regulates the shape of at least one of the first sheet portion (20A) and the second sheet portion (20A), as separate members; At least one of the first sheet portion (20A) and the second sheet portion (20A) the at least one end (25) has an extended shape so as to cover the bent portion (10B), and the shape of the end (25) is restricted by the third sheet portion (20B) so that the end (25) is accommodated in the case (30); Each of the first sheet portion (20A) and the second sheet portion (20A) 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).

[0024] According to the busbar module having the configuration [1] above, the heat-resistant sheet material includes a first sheet portion and a second sheet portion that have shapes corresponding to and cover the first and second straight portions of the busbar, and a third sheet portion that regulates the shape of at least one of the first and second sheet portions. At least one of the first and second sheet portions has a shape in which at least one end is extended to cover the bent portion. The third sheet portion regulates the shape of at least one end so that the at least one end is accommodated in the case. Each of the first and second sheet portions has one portion that is disposed on one plate surface of the busbar, another portion that is disposed on the other plate surface of the busbar, and a connecting portion that connects the one portion and the other portion, and is configured to cover the busbar by being folded back at the connecting portion. This allows the sheet material to be attached to the bus bar by first preparing the first, second, and third sheet portions having the above-described shapes. When attaching the sheet material to the bus bar, the first and second sheet portions are folded back at the connecting portions, respectively, so that the first and second portions cover the first and second plate surfaces of the bus bar, respectively, and the third sheet portion regulates the shape of at least one of the first and second sheet portions at the bent portion. In other words, the sheet material can be attached to the bus bar by the simple process of folding the sheet material. This provides superior workability in attaching the sheet material compared to conventional tape wrapping, and prevents the sheet material layer from becoming excessively thick. Therefore, the bus bar module configured in this manner achieves both heat resistance and productivity.

[0025] [2] In the busbar module (1) described in [1] above, The first sheet portion (20A) The shape before covering the bus bar (10) is a rectangle having one side corresponding to the length of the first linear portion (10A), The second sheet portion (20B) The shape of the bus bar (10) before covering it is a rectangle having one side corresponding to the length of the second linear portion (10A). Busbar module (1).

[0026] According to the busbar module having the configuration [2] above, the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion can be easily provided on the straight portion and the bent portion of the busbar while reducing unnecessary overlap.

[0027] [3] 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 [3] above, the bus bar can be surrounded by the sheet material and covered without any gaps.

[0029] [4] 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 [4] 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 (1st straight section, 2nd 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, second seat section) 20B Restriction sheet section (third sheet section) 21 One side 22 Other part 23 Connecting part 25 Extension (end) 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 a first linear portion and a second linear portion each having a shape extending linearly, and a bent portion connecting the first linear portion and the second linear portion and having a bent shape, The sheet material is a first sheet portion having a shape corresponding to the first linear portion and covering the first linear portion; a second sheet portion having a shape corresponding to the second linear portion and covering the second linear portion; and a third sheet portion that regulates the shape of at least one of the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion, At least one of the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion is the at least one end has an extended shape so as to cover the bent portion, and the shape of the end is restricted by the third sheet portion so that the end is accommodated in the case; 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, The first sheet portion is a shape of the bus bar before being covered is a rectangle having one side corresponding to the length of the first linear portion, The second sheet portion is The shape of the bus bar before being covered is a rectangle having one side corresponding to the length of the second linear portion. Busbar module.

3. 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.

4. 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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