Flexible bus bar

Abstract

We provide flexible busbars that not only improve the appearance but also stabilize the quality of the product. [Solution] The flexible busbar 1 comprises a flexible busbar body 2 and left fixing part 2a1 and right fixing part 2b1 that fix both sides of the flexible busbar body 2. When bending the flexible busbar body 2, the left fixing part 2a1, which is close to the bending line S1, includes the bending line S1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible bus bar.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, when connecting energizable members (for example, batteries mounted on electric vehicles, hybrid cars, etc.), it is known to use a flexible bus bar. As such a flexible bus bar, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when bending the flexible bus bar as described above, there were the following problems. This will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the conventional flexible bus bar 100 includes a horizontally long rectangular flexible bus bar main body 101. This flexible bus bar main body 101 is formed by laminating a conductive material foil 102 made of a thin plate-like and flexible metal such as copper as shown in FIG. 2(b). Note that the flexible bus bar main body 101 formed in this way can conduct a large current.

[0006] Thus, as shown in Figure 2(a), the flexible busbar body 101 configured in this way has its left side 101a fixed to form a left fixed portion 101a1, and its right side 101b fixed to form a right fixed portion 101b1. As a result, as shown in Figure 2(a), an unfixed portion 101c is formed between the left fixed portion 101a1 and the right fixed portion 101b1. Therefore, the flexible busbar 100 shown in Figure 2(a) is formed in this way. The unfixed portion 101c is flexible.

[0007] Thus, when the flexible busbar 100 formed in this manner is bent 90 degrees along the bending line S100 shown in Figure 2(a), it becomes as shown in Figure 2(b). That is, as shown in Figure 2(b), since the non-adherent portion 101c is involved in the 90-degree bending process, when the conductive material foil 102 located on the outermost circumferential surface 101ca side of the non-adherent portion 101c and the conductive material foil 102 located on the innermost circumferential surface 101cb side of the non-adherent portion 101c are bent 90 degrees along the bending line S100 shown in Figure 2(a), a distance difference occurs, resulting in an inner-outer difference. Therefore, as shown in Figures 2(a) and (b), when the left fixing portion 101a1 and the right fixing portion 101b1 are formed, the difference between the inside and outside causes the conductive material foil 102 located on the innermost circumferential surface 101cb side of the non-fixing portion 101c to bulge and wrinkle, as shown in Figure 2(b). Flexible busbars 100 that exhibit this phenomenon have an unsightly appearance and pose a problem in that they cannot be properly connected to electrically conductive components (for example, batteries installed in electric vehicles or hybrid cars) due to size incompatibility.

[0008] Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method shown in Figure 3 can be considered.

[0009] In other words, as shown in Figure 3(a), only the left side 101a of the flexible busbar body 101 is fixed to form the left fixed portion 101a1. Then, in this state, when it is bent 90 degrees along the bending line S101 shown in Figure 3(a), it will be in the state shown in Figure 3(b). In other words, as shown in Figure 3(b), since the non-fixed portion 101c is involved in the 90-degree bending process, when the conductive material foil 102 located on the outermost circumferential surface 101ca side of the non-fixed portion 101c and the conductive material foil 102 located on the innermost circumferential surface 101cb side of the non-fixed portion 101c are bent 90 degrees along the bending line S101 shown in Figure 3(a). However, as shown in Figure 3(b), since the right-side fixed portion 101b1 shown in Figure 2 is not formed, the length of the conductive material foil 102 located on the outermost circumferential surface 101ca side of the non-fixed portion 101c becomes longer, and the length gradually decreases towards the conductive material foil 102 located on the innermost circumferential surface 101cb side of the non-fixed portion 101c. This prevents the wrinkled phenomenon shown in Figure 2(b) from occurring.

[0010] Then, as shown in Figure 3(c), the right side 101b of the flexible busbar body 101 is fixed to form the right fixing portion 101b1. At this time, in order to align the end face of the right fixing portion 101b1 (the right side 101b of the flexible busbar body 101) as shown in Figure 3(c), the right fixing portion 101b1 is cut along the cutting line S102. As a result, the flexible busbar 100 can be bent 90 degrees along the bending line S101 shown in Figure 3(a) without the wrinkles that occur as shown in Figure 2(b).

[0011] However, this approach not only increases the number of cutting steps but also increases the likelihood of product variation, potentially leading to inconsistent product quality.

[0012] Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a flexible busbar that can not only improve the appearance but also stabilize the quality of the product. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The object of the present invention described above is achieved by the following means. The reference numerals in parentheses indicate the embodiments described later, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0014] The flexible busbar according to claim 1 comprises a flexible busbar body (2) and In a flexible busbar (1) having fixing parts (left fixing part 2a1, right fixing part 2b1) that fix both sides of the flexible busbar body (2), When bending the flexible busbar body (2) from a predetermined position (bending line S1), the fixing parts (left fixing part 2a1, right fixing part 2b1) are characterized in that they fix both sides of the flexible busbar body (2) so as to include the predetermined position (bending line S1).

[0015] The flexible busbar according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the flexible busbar according to claim 1, the fixing portion (left fixing portion 2a1) on either side of the flexible busbar body (2) that is close to the predetermined position (bending line S1) is fixed to the flexible busbar body in such a way that it includes the predetermined position (bending line S1).

[0016] The flexible bus bar according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the flexible bus bar according to claim 1 or 2, the fixing portions (left fixing portion 2a1, right fixing portion 2b1) are fixed to both sides of the flexible bus bar body (2) by heat welding. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] Next, the effects of the present invention will be described with reference to the reference numerals in the drawings. Note that the reference numerals in parentheses are those of embodiments described later, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0018] According to the invention according to claim 1, when bending from a predetermined position (bending line S1) of the flexible bus bar body (2), the fixing parts (left fixing part 2a1, right fixing part 2b1) fix both side parts of the flexible bus bar body (2) so as to include the predetermined position (bending line S1). Thereby, even if bending is performed from the predetermined position (bending line S1) of the flexible bus bar body (2), a flexible part (for example, the non-fixing part (2c) as shown in FIG. 1) of the flexible bus bar body (2) is not affected.

[0019] Therefore, according to the present invention, not only can the appearance be improved, but also the quality of the product can be stabilized.

[0020] According to the invention according to claim 2, the flexibility of a flexible part (for example, the non-fixing part (2c) as shown in FIG. 1) of the flexible bus bar body (2) can be maximally exerted.

[0021] According to the invention according to claim 3, when heat is applied to the flexible bus bar (1) used for solder or the like, there is no possibility of melting. Furthermore, there is no possibility that the resistance value required for the flexible bus bar (1) cannot be obtained due to the influence of members used for solder or the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] (a) is a plan view of a flexible bus bar according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a side view when the flexible bus bar according to the embodiment is bent by 90 degrees. [Figure 2] (a) is a plan view of a conventional flexible bus bar, and (b) is a side view when the flexible bus bar in (a) is bent by 90 degrees. [Figure 3] (a) is a plan view of a conventional flexible bus bar, (b) is a side view when the flexible bus bar in (a) is bent by 90 degrees, and (c) is an explanatory view for explaining a state of cutting.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, a flexible bus bar according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, when indicating the up-down, left-right directions, it shall refer to the up-down, left-right as seen from the front of the illustration.

[0024] <Schematic Explanation of Flexible Bus Bar> The flexible bus bar 1 according to the present embodiment can not only prevent the phenomenon of wrinkling but also enables bending processing that can stabilize the quality of the product. Specifically, the flexible bus bar 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a flexible bus bar body 2.

[0025] <Explanation of Flexible Bus Bar Body> As shown in FIG. 1(a), the flexible bus bar body 2 is formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape in plan view, and as shown in FIG. 1(b), it is formed by laminating a conductive material foil 3 made of a thin plate-like and flexible metal such as copper. The flexible bus bar body 2 formed in this way can conduct a large current.

[0026] Thus, as shown in FIG. 1(a), the left side surface 2a side of the flexible bus bar body 2 is fixed by heat welding to form a left fixing portion 2a1, and the right side surface 2b side is fixed by heat welding to form a right fixing portion 2b1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1(a), a non-fixing portion 2c is formed between the left fixing portion 2a1 and the right fixing portion 2b1, and this non-fixing portion 2c has flexibility.

[0027] Therefore, the flexible bus bar 1 is configured in this way.

[0028] <Explanation of Bending Processing of Flexible Bus Bar> Incidentally, as shown in Figure 1(a), the left fixing portion 2a1 is formed to include the bending line S1 when the flexible busbar body 2 is bent 90 degrees along the bending line S1 shown in Figure 1(a).

[0029] Thus, by forming the left fixing portion 2a1 in this manner, when the flexible busbar 1, that is, the flexible busbar body 2, is bent along the bending line S1 shown in Figure 1(a), it will be in the state shown in Figure 1(b). In other words, as shown in Figure 1(b), this bending process does not create a distance difference, or an in-outside difference, between the conductive material foil 3 located on the outermost surface 2ca side and the conductive material foil 3 located on the innermost surface 2cb side of the non-fixed portion 2c. In other words, as shown in Figure 1(b), the non-fixed portion 2c is not involved in the bending process and is therefore not affected by it. As a result, no distance difference, or an in-outside difference, occurs. Consequently, the phenomenon of wrinkles forming on the conductive material foil 3 located on the innermost surface 2cb side, as shown in Figure 2(b), which can occur due to a distance difference, or an in-outside difference, does not occur.

[0030] Furthermore, there is no need to perform cutting to align the end face of the right fixing portion 2b1 (the right side 2b of the flexible busbar body 2), as shown in Figure 3(c), which occurs due to the difference in distance, i.e., the difference between the inside and outside.

[0031] Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, there is no distance difference, or inverse difference, between the conductive material foil 3 located on the outermost surface 2ca side and the conductive material foil 3 located on the innermost surface 2cb side of the non-adhered portion 2c. As a result, the phenomenon of wrinkling that occurs in the conventional method does not occur, and problems such as an increase in cutting steps, increased product variation, and potential instability in product quality do not arise.

[0032] Therefore, according to this embodiment, not only can the appearance be improved, but the quality of the product can also be stabilized.

[0033] <Explanation of variations> It should be noted that the shapes and other features shown in this embodiment are merely examples, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims. For example, in this embodiment, the left fixing portion 2a1 is formed to include the bending line S1, but the right fixing portion 2b1 may be formed to include the bending line S1. However, it is preferable to include the bending line S1 in the left fixing portion 2a1, which is closer to the bending line S1, as in this embodiment. This is because it allows the flexibility of the non-fixed portion 2c to be maximized.

[0034] Furthermore, although this embodiment shows an example in which the left fixing portion 2a1 and the right fixing portion 2b1 are formed by heat welding, the method is not limited to this, and they may also be formed using solder or the like. However, heat welding is preferred. This is because if solder or the like is used, the solder used in the solder may melt when heat is applied to the flexible busbar 1, and furthermore, the resistance value required for the flexible busbar 1 may not be obtained due to the influence of the materials used in the solder or the like. For this reason, heat welding is preferred.

[0035] Furthermore, although this embodiment describes the bending process using 90 degrees as an example, it is of course not limited to this and can be applied to various bending angles such as 80 degrees or 100 degrees. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1 Flexible bus bar 2 Flexible busbar body 2a1 Left fixing part (fixing part) 2b1 Right fixing part (fixing part) 2c Non-fixed part S1 Folding line (predetermined position)

Claims

1. Flexible busbar body, A flexible bus bar having fastening portions that fasten both sides of the flexible bus bar body, When bending the flexible busbar body from a predetermined position, the fixing portion is a flexible busbar that fixes both sides of the flexible busbar body so as to include the predetermined position.

2. The flexible busbar according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion on either side of the flexible busbar body that is close to the predetermined position is fixed to the flexible busbar body so as to include the predetermined position.

3. The flexible bus bar according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing portion fixes both sides of the flexible bus bar body by heat welding.

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