Connecting conductive plate

Abstract

Since the liquid metal is present in the slit and can move in the slit, the occurrence of a failure in the contact part is suppressed even if long-term vibration is repeated.SOLUTION: In a connection conductive plate 1 in which a first contact surface 11 of a first conductive plate 10 and a second contact surface 21 of a second conductive plate 20 are connected, at least one slit 31, 32 is provided in at least one of the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, and at least a part of the first contact surface 11 and at least a part of the second contact surface 21 face each other via a liquid metal L filling the slit 31, 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting conductive plate. [Background technology]

[0002] Contacts that ensure electrical connections with vehicle connector terminals, bus bars, etc. are subjected to repeated vibrations generated when the vehicle is running over a long period of time, which can cause fretting wear at the contacts and potentially lead to damage to the contacts.

[0003] Fretting wear is caused by factors such as the long-term repetition of minute micro-level movements and the accumulation of oxides due to repeated connection and separation of contact parts. In electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), if contact failure causes a large current to flow and resistance increases at contact parts such as connector terminals and bus bars, this can result in power transmission loss, reduce energy efficiency, and potentially shorten driving distance.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal pair in which at least one of the female terminal and the male terminal is provided with a porous body impregnated with liquid metal, and the porous body is positioned so that it comes into contact with the mating terminal of the terminal with the porous body when the female terminal and the male terminal are mated. By impregnating and holding the liquid metal in the porous body, it is intended that the liquid metal will not leak due to vibrations, etc.

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses a contact element that is electrically connected to a mating member via a molten conductive material, and that includes a roughened surface portion to reduce wettability with the molten conductive material. The inclusion of the molten conductive material reduces the connection resistance with the mating member, and the roughened surface portion increases the contact area with the molten conductive material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-59479 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-156869 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Patent Document 1 uses a porous body impregnated with liquid metal. If the porous body is made of a flexible material such as a polymer foam or fiber, it may peel off when the terminals are mated. Even if the porous body can be held between the terminals without peeling, it may be damaged if it is subjected to repeated vibrations under long-term pressure. Furthermore, if the porous body is a metal porous body, the protrusions of the porous body between the contact points may scrape the surface of the terminals due to vibration, causing localized wear.

[0008] Patent Document 2 relates to a contact member such as a contact switch, and is based on the premise that the contact member is conductive when placed in a contact state and non-conductive when placed in a non-contact state. It does not take into consideration the occurrence of fretting wear at the contact portion over a long period of time.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a conductive connecting plate that can suppress the occurrence of failures in contact portions due to repeated vibrations over a long period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connecting conductive plate according to the present invention has the following features. a connecting conductive plate connecting a first contact surface of the first conductive plate and a second contact surface of the second conductive plate, At least one slit is provided in at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface; At least a part of the first contact surface and at least a part of the second contact surface face each other via the liquid metal filling the slit. Connecting conductive plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, liquid metal is interposed between the first contact surface of the first conductive plate and the second contact surface of the second conductive plate, which suppresses an increase in resistance, and since the liquid metal exists within the slit and can move within the slit, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage to the contact area even when subjected to repeated long-term vibrations.

[0012] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a connecting conductive plate according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the connection conductive plate according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the connection conductive plate according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which a spring as a pressing member presses a contact portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, a connection conductive plate according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a connection conductive plate 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of the connection conductive plate 1 according to the embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a front view of the connection conductive plate 1 according to the embodiment. The connection conductive plate 1 is a conductive plate obtained by connecting at least two conductive plates at contact portions 5, and is used, for example, as a connector terminal or bus bar for a vehicle.

[0015] Specifically, the connection conductive plate 1 is obtained by connecting the first contact surface 11 of the first conductive plate 10 and the second contact surface 21 of the second conductive plate 20 at the contact portion 5 where they come into contact with each other. The first conductive plate 10 and the second conductive plate 20 are made of, for example, copper (Cu), but the material is not particularly limited. The longitudinal direction of the connection conductive plate 1 is defined as the X-axis, the direction in the same plane as the X-axis and perpendicular to the X-axis, i.e., the width direction of the connection conductive plate 1, is defined as the Y-axis, and the direction perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis, i.e., the thickness direction of the connection conductive plate 1, is defined as the Z-axis.

[0016] In the connecting conductive plate 1 of the embodiment, at least a part of the first contact surface 11 and at least a part of the second contact surface 21 face each other via the liquid metal L. The liquid metal L serves as a contact material between the conductive plates, improves the adhesion between the two conductive plates, and its fluidity makes it possible to easily increase the contact area between the two conductive plates.

[0017] The larger the contact area between the two conductive plates at the contact portion 5, or in this embodiment, the contact area between the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, the higher the conductivity. Because the surfaces of the conductive plates have minute irregularities, the contact area required to ensure conductivity is the true contact area, which is the area where the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21 actually contact. The true contact area is the contact area of ​​only the convex portions of the minute irregularities, and is therefore smaller than the apparent contact area. In this embodiment, liquid metal L exists between at least a portion of the first contact surface 11 and at least a portion of the second contact surface 21, filling the gap between the contact surfaces. This allows the liquid metal L to conduct the liquid metal L into the concave portions other than the convex portions, ensuring a larger contact area, i.e., the conduction area.

[0018] The connecting conductive plate 1 is intended for use in vehicles, etc., and is expected to be subjected to repeated external vibrations. Vibrations may physically deteriorate the contact areas of the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, raising concerns about problems such as increased electrical resistance and wear.

[0019] In the conductive connecting plate 1 of this embodiment, even if the gap between the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21 temporarily widens due to vibration, the liquid metal L maintains contact, thereby suppressing an increase in electrical resistance. The liquid metal L also functions as a conductive lubricant between the contact surfaces, suppressing wear even if the real contact surfaces of the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21 slide slightly. Furthermore, since the contact portion 5 is filled with the liquid metal L, the contact surface is isolated from the atmosphere, and even if wear occurs, oxidation of the contact surface does not progress, thereby suppressing an increase in resistance.

[0020] The liquid metal L may be gallium (Ga) alone or an alloy of gallium, indium (In), tin (Sn), or the like, but the material is not particularly limited. Metal powder may be mixed into the liquid metal L to adjust the viscosity. The material of the metal powder may be a conductive metal alone, such as copper or silver, or an alloy thereof.

[0021] When the temperature drops, the liquid metal L solidifies, but when it solidifies, the volume of the liquid metal L expands, which prevents a gap from forming between the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21. Furthermore, when the liquid metal L solidifies, the contact surfaces are fixed, which prevents fretting wear and, in theory, prevents functional problems from occurring due to solidification at low temperatures.

[0022] Furthermore, in the conductive connection plate 1 of the embodiment, a slit 31 is provided in the first contact surface 11, and a slit 32 is provided in the second contact surface 21. The slits 31 and 32 are recesses formed in the surfaces of the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, respectively, and extend in the XY plane. The liquid metal L enters and fills the slits 31 and 32. Therefore, at least a portion of the first contact surface 11 and at least a portion of the second contact surface 21 face each other via the liquid metal L filling the slits 31 and 32.

[0023] According to the connecting conductive plate 1 of this embodiment, in addition to the function of the liquid metal L described above, the liquid metal L interposed between the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21 exists within the slits 31, 32 and can move within the slits 31, 32, thereby suppressing the occurrence of failures at the contact portion 5 even when subjected to repeated long-term vibrations.

[0024] In this embodiment, multiple slits 31, 32 are provided on both the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21. However, the slits may be provided on at least one of the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21. Also, a single slit, rather than multiple slits, may be provided on at least one of the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21. Even in such a configuration, the liquid metal L moves through the slit, so that the occurrence of failures at the contact portion 5 can be suppressed.

[0025] In the embodiment, a plurality of slits 31, 32 are provided on both the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21. This allows the liquid metal L to move through the slits 31, 32 on both the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, thereby further suppressing the occurrence of failures at the contact portion 5.

[0026] 1, the plurality of slits 31 provided in the first contact surface 11 and the plurality of slits 32 provided in the second contact surface 21 are formed so as to intersect each other at right angles. That is, the plurality of slits 31 and the plurality of slits 32 are arranged in a lattice pattern in the XY plane. This allows the liquid metal L to move through the slits 31 and 32 and be evenly distributed between the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, thereby preventing the liquid metal L from being unevenly distributed in a specific location of the contact portion 5.

[0027] The edges of the contact surfaces of the slits 31 and 32 may be curved. If the edges are not curved and have a vertex, there is a risk that the surface of the opposite conductive plate may be scraped off by minute movements caused by vibration, but by applying a curved surface, this can be prevented.

[0028] In the embodiment, the first contact surface 11 is provided at the end 12 of the first conductive plate 10, and the second contact surface 21 is provided at the end 22 of the second conductive plate 20. This makes it possible to prevent failures from occurring at the contact portions 5 at the end 12 of the first conductive plate 10 and the end 22 of the second conductive plate 20.

[0029] Furthermore, at least a portion of end surface 13 of first conductive plate 10 has curved surface 14, which is continuously connected to first contact surface 11. In particular, such curved surface 14 is formed at end 12 of first conductive plate 10. Similarly, at least a portion of end surface 23 of second conductive plate 20 has curved surface 24, which is continuously connected to second contact surface 21. In particular, such curved surface 24 is formed at end 22 of second conductive plate 20.

[0030] The curved surface 14 and the curved surface 24 are continuously connected to the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, if the liquid metal L overflows from the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, the liquid metal L is pulled by the curved surface 14 or the curved surface 24 and gradually spreads out as it overflows from the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21. As a result, the surface tension of the liquid metal L gradually increases. The increased surface tension prevents the liquid metal L from overflowing further outward from the end surfaces 13 and 23. This effect is more easily achieved by appropriately adjusting the amount of liquid metal L supplied.

[0031] Note that curved surfaces 14 and 24 are not essential for generating the surface tension of the liquid metal L as described above. For example, curved surfaces 14 and 24 may be replaced with linear inclined surfaces. That is, at least a portion of end surface 13 of first conductive plate 10 may be continuously connected to first contact surface 11 while inclining toward the center of first contact surface 11 in a plan view with respect to the direction perpendicular to first contact surface 11 (Z-axis direction), similar to curved surface 14. Here, at least a portion of end surface 13 forms an inclined surface and corresponds to curved surface 14, but it also includes linear inclined surfaces and is a broader concept than curved surface 14.

[0032] Furthermore, at least a part of end face 23 of second conductive plate 20 may be inclined toward the center of second contact face 21 in a plan view with respect to the direction perpendicular to second contact face 21 (Z-axis direction), similar to curved face 24, and may be continuously connected to second contact face 21. Here, at least a part of end face 23 forms an inclined surface and corresponds to curved face 24, but it also includes linear inclined faces and is a broader concept than curved face 24.

[0033] The plan view refers to the surface on which the first contact surface 11 or the second contact surface 21 is visible when the connecting conductive plate 1 is viewed along the Z-axis direction, and is the surface shown in FIG.

[0034] As a result, if the liquid metal L overflows from the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, as the liquid metal L overflows from the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21, the liquid metal L is pulled by at least a part of the inclined surfaces of the end surface 13 and the end surface 23 and gradually spreads out. As a result, the surface tension of the liquid metal L gradually increases. The increased surface tension acts to prevent the liquid metal L from overflowing further outward from the end surfaces 13 and 23. This effect is more easily exerted by appropriately adjusting the amount of liquid metal L supplied.

[0035] Furthermore, since the liquid metal L is held at the contact portion 5 not only by the slits 31, 32 but also by at least some of the inclined surfaces of the end face 13 and the end face 23, even if the gap between the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21 fluctuates at a microscopic level due to a microscopic movement, the liquid metal L deforms slightly in response to the fluctuation, thereby preventing gaps from occurring between the contact surfaces.

[0036] The portion of the liquid metal L that comes into contact with the atmosphere will oxidize to form an oxide film on the order of nanometers, but this oxide film itself functions as a protective film that prevents contact between the atmosphere and the liquid metal L, thereby suppressing oxidation of the liquid metal L during use. If the micro-sliding caused by vibration is a micro-level movement, it is possible to prevent the oxide film on the surface of the liquid metal L from flowing and exposing the liquid metal L inside.

[0037] When the first contact surface 11 is provided at the end 12 of the first conductive plate 10 and the second contact surface 21 is provided at the end 22 of the second conductive plate 20 as in the embodiment, the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21 are each surrounded by three end surfaces in a plan view. At least a portion of each of the three end surfaces 13 surrounding the first contact surface 11 is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the first contact surface 11 so as to move toward the center of the first contact surface 11 in a plan view. Furthermore, at least a portion of each of the three end surfaces 23 surrounding the second contact surface 21 is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the second contact surface 21 so as to move toward the center of the second contact surface 21 in a plan view. This makes it possible to prevent failures from occurring at the contact portions 5 at the end 12 of the first conductive plate 10 and the end 22 of the second conductive plate 20.

[0038] 4 is a side view showing a state in which spring 40, acting as a pressing member, presses contact portion 5. In practical use, contact portion 5 is housed in, for example, a connector case (not shown), and spring 40 presses at least one of first contact surface 11 or second contact surface 21 toward the other contact surface. The presence of spring 40 makes it possible to more firmly maintain the connection between first conductive plate 10 and second conductive plate 20. Spring 40 allows for a simple configuration of the pressing member.

[0039] In Fig. 4, two springs 40 press the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21 toward each other. The springs 40 may be any type of spring. The pressing members may also be other members having elasticity other than springs.

[0040] Instead of the slits 31 and 32, recesses may be provided in at least one of the first contact surface 11 and the second contact surface 21. When the liquid metal L is present in the recesses, the occurrence of damage to the contact portion 5 can be suppressed even if the contact portion 5 is subjected to repeated vibrations over a long period of time.

[0041] In the embodiment, the multiple slits 31 provided in the first contact surface 11 and the multiple slits 32 provided in the second contact surface 21 are formed so as to intersect each other at right angles. However, the slits 31 and the slits 32 may extend in the same direction and be parallel to each other without intersecting. The extension direction of the slits 31 and the slits 32 may be oblique to the X-axis and Y-axis. Furthermore, the multiple slits 31 on the first contact surface 11 may intersect each other, and the multiple slits 32 on the second contact surface 21 may intersect each other.

[0042] It is not necessarily necessary to provide both slits 31, 32 and the inclined surfaces (curved surfaces 14, 24) of end faces 13, 23; either slits 31, 32 or the inclined surfaces of end faces 13, 23 may be provided on first conductive plate 10 and second conductive plate 20.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0044] Here, the features of the connecting conductive plate according to the embodiment of the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [7].

[0045] [1] A connecting conductive plate (1) connecting a first contact surface (11) of a first conductive plate (10) and a second contact surface (21) of a second conductive plate (20), At least one slit (31, 32) is provided in at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface; At least a part of the first contact surface and at least a part of the second contact surface face each other via a liquid metal (L) filling the slit. Connecting conductive plate.

[0046] According to the connecting conductive plate having the configuration [1] above, liquid metal is interposed between the first contact surface of the first conductive plate and the second contact surface of the second conductive plate, and the liquid metal exists in the slit and can move within the slit, so that the occurrence of failures at the contact points can be suppressed even when subjected to repeated long-term vibrations.

[0047] [2] The first contact surface is provided on an end (12) of the first conductive plate; The second contact surface is provided on an end (22) of the second conductive plate. The connecting conductive plate according to [1] above.

[0048] According to the connection conductive plate having the configuration [2] above, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of failures at the contact portions at the ends of the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate.

[0049] [3] At least a portion of the end surface (13) of the first conductive plate has a curved surface (14), and the curved surface is continuously connected to the first contact surface; At least a portion of the end surface (23) of the second conductive plate has a curved surface (24), which is continuously connected to the second contact surface. The connecting conductive plate according to [1] or [2] above.

[0050] According to the connecting conductive plate having the configuration [3] above, the curved surfaces at the end faces of the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are continuously connected to the first contact surface and the second contact surface, so that the surface tension of the liquid metal spilling out from the first contact surface or the second contact surface gradually increases, and the increased surface tension can prevent the liquid metal from spilling out further out from the end face.

[0051] [4] The device further includes a pressing member (spring 40) that presses at least one of the first contact surface or the second contact surface toward the other contact surface. The connecting conductive plate according to [1] above.

[0052] According to the connection conductive plate having the configuration [4] above, the presence of the pressing member makes it possible to maintain the connection between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate more firmly.

[0053] [5] The pressing member is a spring. The connecting conductive plate according to [4] above.

[0054] According to the connection conductive plate having the configuration [5] above, the pressing member can be easily configured.

[0055] [6] A plurality of the slits are provided on both the first contact surface and the second contact surface. The connecting conductive plate according to any one of [1] to [5] above.

[0056] According to the connection conductive plate having the configuration [6] above, the liquid metal can move within the slits on both the first contact surface and the second contact surface, so that the occurrence of failures at the contact portions can be further suppressed.

[0057] [7] The plurality of slits provided on the first contact surface and the plurality of slits provided on the second contact surface are perpendicular to each other. The connecting conductive plate according to [6] above.

[0058] According to the conductive connection plate having the configuration [7] above, it is possible to prevent the liquid metal from being unevenly distributed in a specific location between the first contact surface and the second contact surface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Connecting conductive plate 5 Contact area 10 First conductive plate 11 First contact surface 12 End 13 End face 14 Curved surface 20 Second conductive plate 21 Second contact surface 22 End 23 End face 24 Curved surface 31 Slit 32 Slit 40 Spring (pressure member) L liquid metal

Claims

1. a connecting conductive plate connecting the first contact surface of the first conductive plate and the second contact surface of the second conductive plate, At least one slit is provided in at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface; At least a portion of the first contact surface and at least a portion of the second contact surface face each other via the liquid metal filling the slit. Connecting conductive plate.

2. the first contact surface is provided at an end of the first conductive plate; the second contact surface is provided on an end of the second conductive plate; The conductive connecting plate according to claim 1 .

3. At least a portion of an end surface of the first conductive plate has a curved surface, and the curved surface is continuously connected to the first contact surface; At least a part of an end surface of the second conductive plate has a curved surface, and the curved surface is continuously connected to the second contact surface. The conductive connecting plate according to claim 1 .

4. The device further includes a pressing member that presses at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface toward the other contact surface. The conductive connecting plate according to claim 1 .

5. The pressing member is a spring. The conductive connecting plate according to claim 4 .

6. A plurality of the slits are provided on both the first contact surface and the second contact surface. The conductive connecting plate according to claim 1 .

7. the plurality of slits provided on the first contact surface and the plurality of slits provided on the second contact surface are perpendicular to each other; The conductive connecting plate according to claim 6 .

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