Terminal block

Abstract

The objective is to provide a terminal block that can properly cool the busbars held by the terminal block. [Solution] The terminal block 1 comprises a busbar 10 extending in the axial direction X and connected to an external terminal, and a housing 20 that holds the busbar 10. The busbar 10 has an internal portion 120 provided inside the housing 20, and a cooling channel 25 through which a cooling medium, which is a cooling oil Rf, flows is provided inside the housing 20, and the internal portion 120 of the busbar 10 is provided in the cooling channel 25.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal block.

Background Art

[0002] As a technology related to a conventional terminal block, for example, in Patent Document 1, there are a plurality of connection parts to which bus bars including terminals are respectively connected, a storage part for storing the sprayed coolant, and a partition part for partitioning between the storage part and the plurality of connection parts. A terminal block is disclosed in which the partition part is provided with a plurality of flow paths for flowing the coolant from the storage part into the plurality of connection parts respectively.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, such a terminal block cools the bus bar exposed at the connection part, for example, by allowing the coolant as a cooling medium to flow through the flow path from the storage part of the terminal block. However, there is room for further improvement in the configuration for cooling the bus bar connected and held to the terminal block by the cooling medium.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a terminal block capable of appropriately cooling a bus bar held by the terminal block.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the terminal block of the present invention comprises a busbar extending in the axial direction and connected to an external terminal, and a housing that holds the busbar, wherein the busbar has an internal portion provided inside the housing, a cooling channel through which a cooling medium flows is provided inside the housing, and the internal portion of the busbar is provided in the cooling channel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The terminal block according to the present invention has the effect of being able to properly cool the busbars held in the terminal block. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal block according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a terminal block according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the area around the inlet according to the embodiment, with the mounting target represented in cross-section. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the area around the outlet according to the embodiment, with the mounting target represented in cross-section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Furthermore, some of the components in the following embodiments may be easily substituted or substantially identical to those that are easily substituted by those skilled in the art.

[0010] [Embodiment] The terminal block 1 of this embodiment, shown in Figures 1 and 2, is mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, attached to a mounting target 70, and relays the electrical connection between a first device and a second device (not shown). The terminal block 1 of this embodiment is composed of a plurality of busbars 10, of which there are three, and the external terminals of the first device are electrically connected to a first connection part 11 provided at one end of the plurality of busbars 10. In addition, the external terminals of the second device are electrically connected to a second connection part 12 provided at the other end of the plurality of busbars 10. The first device is, for example, one of a motor and an inverter, and the second device is, for example, the other of a motor and an inverter. Note that the terminal block 1 is not limited to this example and may be used, for example, to relay between the first device or the second device and a cable, or to relay between cable materials, etc.

[0011] In the following explanation, the direction in which the busbar 10 extends will be defined as the axial direction X, the direction perpendicular to the axial direction X in which multiple busbars 10 are arranged will be defined as the width direction Y, and the directions perpendicular to the axial direction X and the width direction Y will be defined as the height direction Z. Furthermore, one side of the axial direction X will be defined as side X1, and the other side as side X2. Similarly, in the width direction Y, side Y1 and side Y2 will be defined, and in the height direction Z, side Z1 and side Z2 will be defined.

[0012] The terminal block 1 comprises a plurality of busbars 10 and a housing 20 that holds the plurality of busbars 10. The housing 20 includes a front holder 200 that holds a plurality of nuts 30. Each busbar 10 has a first connecting portion 11 and a second connecting portion 12 formed by bending at a right angle from the first connecting portion 11. Each portion is formed three-dimensionally as a single, approximately L-shape by applying various processes such as bending to a metal material such as sheet metal material according to the shape corresponding to each portion. The first connecting portion 11 extends in the height direction Z and is formed as a plate with its surface facing the axial direction X. The second connecting portion 12 extends in the axial direction X and is formed as a plate with its surface facing the height direction Z. On the other side Z2 of the first connecting portion 11 in the height direction Z, a connecting hole 11a is provided that penetrates in the axial direction X. Similarly, on one side X1 of the second connecting portion 12 in the axial direction X, a connecting hole 12a is provided that penetrates in the height direction Z. The external terminal of the first device is connected to the connection hole 11a of the first connection part 11, and the external terminal of the second device is connected to the connection hole 12a of the second connection part 12.

[0013] The housing 20 has a housing body 21 and a busbar holding portion 22, and is integrally formed from an insulating synthetic resin material or the like. The housing body 21 is formed in the shape of a substantially rectangular plate with the width direction Y as the longitudinal direction. One side X1 of the housing body 21 in the axial direction X is a substantially flat mounting surface 21a that abuts against the other side X2 of the mounting target 70 in the axial direction X. Mounting holes 21b are provided near the ends of one side Y1 and the other side Y2 in the width direction Y of the housing body 21. The mounting holes 21b are holes that penetrate in the axial direction X, and bolts (not shown) are inserted to fix the terminal block 1 to the mounting target 70 via the mounting holes 21b.

[0014] The busbar holding portion 22 of the housing 20 is provided in the approximate center of the housing body 21 in the width direction Y. The busbar holding portion 22 is formed to protrude from the mounting surface 21a of the housing body 21 toward one side X1 in the axial direction X. The busbar holding portion 22 holds a plurality of busbars 10 extending in the axial direction X so as to intersect with the mounting surface 21a. The base portion 22a of the busbar holding portion 22, which is on the housing body 21 side, is formed in a substantially columnar shape with a substantially rounded rectangular cross-section whose longitudinal direction is in the width direction Y and which extends in the axial direction X. The other side X2 of the base portion 22a in the axial direction X is connected to the housing body 21.

[0015] Each busbar 10 is fixed and held in the housing 20 by insert molding. Specifically, a portion of the outer surface of the other side X2 in the axial direction X at the second connection portion 12 of each busbar 10 is in close contact with the housing 20 at the holding portion 21c of the housing 20 (see also Figure 3). In this way, each busbar 10 is held in the housing 20.

[0016] A sealing member 50 is provided on the base 22a of the housing 20, which is assembled to the annular groove. The housing 20 is installed in the mounting object 70 by inserting the busbar holding portion 22 into the mounting hole 71 that penetrates the mounting object 70, with the base 22a positioned in the mounting hole 71. At this time, the annular sealing member 50 seals the inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole 71 of the mounting object 70 and the outer circumferential surface of the base 22a of the housing 20. Here, the mounting object 70 is part of the oil tank 80 (see Figure 3). The oil tank 80 contains, for example, cooling oil Rf as a cooling medium for cooling a motor (not shown). Therefore, the portion of the terminal block 1, including the first connection portion 11 of the busbar 10, on the other side X2 in the axial direction X is exposed inside the oil tank 80.

[0017] In the bus bar holding portion 22 of the housing 20, a substantially flat plate-shaped tip portion 22b is provided on one side X1 in the axial direction X of the base portion 22a. A front holder 200 is provided on the tip portion 22b. The front holder 200 includes a plurality of nut holding portions 201 that hold three nuts 30, which are square corner nuts, and an insertion portion 202 provided on the other side X2 in the axial direction X of each nut holding portion 201. The insertion portion 202 is formed in a substantially flat cylindrical shape with an outer periphery formed in a substantially tapered shape, and is inserted into the base portion 22a of the bus bar holding portion 22.

[0018] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, one side X1 in the axial direction X of the holding portion 21c of the housing 20 is a space portion where the end portion of the one side X1 is an insertion opening 22a1, and the second connection portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is disposed in the space portion. The space portion includes a bus bar cooling chamber 25a and a packing accommodation portion 22d, which will be described later. The insertion portion 202 of the front holder 200 is inserted into the insertion opening 22a1. The second connection portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is inserted into the insertion portion 202 of the front holder 200, exposed from the insertion portion 202, and is arranged such that the connection hole 12a of the second connection portion 12 and the screw portion of the nut 30 are concentric on one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the nut 30 held by the nut holding portion 201.

[0019] Here, in the second connection portion 12 of the bus bar 10, the portion of the region T1 along the axial direction X from the end portion of the other side X2 in the axial direction X of the holding portion 21c to the end portion of the one side X1 in the axial direction X of the insertion portion 20 of the front holder 200 where the second connection portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is exposed is defined as the internal portion 120. In other words, the bus bar 10 has an internal portion 120 provided inside the housing 20.

[0020] The insertion opening 22a1 into which the insertion portion 202 of the front holder 200 is inserted communicates with the packing accommodation portion 22d. In the packing accommodation portion 22d, a packing 40 arranged around the axial direction X in the second connection portion 12 of the bus bar 10 is provided. The packing 40 is also referred to as a terminal packing, a rubber stopper, a bush, or the like. The packing 40 is formed in a substantially flat annular shape (see also FIG. 2) and adheres to the outer surface of the second connection portion 12 of the bus bar 10 and the inner surface of the packing accommodation portion 22d. Thereby, the packing 40 seals between the bus bar 10 (the inner portion 120) and the housing 20 with respect to the cooling flow path 25 described later. That is, the packing 40 seals between the bus bar 10 (the inner portion 120) and the housing 20 (the inner surface of the packing accommodation portion 22d) on one side X1 in the axial direction X in the bus bar cooling chamber 25a provided so as to intersect orthogonally along the axial direction X with the cooling flow path 25 described later.

[0021] Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the base portion 22a of the housing 20, a plurality of cooling flow paths 25 through which the cooling oil Rf flows are provided corresponding to each bus bar 10. The cooling flow path 25 extends in the extending direction T along the height direction Z from the surface 20e1 on one side Z1 in the height direction Z to the surface 20e2 on the other side Z2 in the housing 20. That is, the cooling flow path 25 is a through hole that linearly penetrates the housing 20 along the height direction Z. Further, the cooling flow path 25 intersects orthogonally with the axial direction X in which the bus bar 10 extends. In a portion where the cooling flow path 25 intersects with the second connection portion 12 (the inner portion 120) of the bus bar 10, a bus bar cooling chamber 25a communicating with the cooling flow path 25 is provided. The bus bar cooling chamber 25a is a space formed around the inner portion 120 of the bus bar 10. In other words, a part of the inner portion 120 of the bus bar 10 is arranged in the bus bar cooling chamber 25a.

[0022] The busbar cooling chamber 25a has a flow path connection portion 25a1 and a sealed portion 25a2 which is the space on the other side X2 in the axial direction X from the packing 40 housed in the packing housing portion 22d and communicates with the flow path connection portion 25a1. The flow path connection portion 25a1 is connected to a circular first cooling flow path 251, which is a cooling flow path 25 from one side Z1 surface 20e1 in the height direction Z of the housing 20 to the busbar cooling chamber 25a, and to a circular second cooling flow path 252, which is a cooling flow path 25 from the busbar cooling chamber 25a to the other side Z2 surface 20e2. The flow path connection portion 25a1 is formed to be larger than the circular first cooling flow path 251 and second cooling flow path 252 in the axial direction X and width direction Y, and is formed to be larger than the plate thickness of the busbar 10 in the height direction Z. The width Y dimension of the flow path connection portion 25a1 is sufficiently smaller than the width Y dimension of the busbar 10 (internal portion 120). Therefore, the flow path connection portion 25a1 is divided into the first cooling flow path 251 side and the second cooling flow path 252 side by the internal portion 120 of the busbar 10.

[0023] One side X1 in the axial direction X of the flow path connection portion 25a1 communicates with the sealed portion 25a2. The sealed portion 25a2 is formed to be larger in the width direction Y than the flow path connection portion 25a1 and the internal portion 120 of the busbar 10. The sealed portion 25a2 is formed to be larger in the height direction Z than the plate thickness of the busbar 10 and the flow path connection portion 25a1. The sealed portion 25a2 is separated into the first cooling flow path 251 side and the second cooling flow path 252 side by the internal portion 120 of the busbar 10. However, as shown in Figure 4, the first cooling flow path 251 side and the second cooling flow path 252 side of the sealed portion 25a2 are in communication through the gap S formed by the packing 40, the side edge of the busbar 10, and the housing 20 (inner surface of the packing housing portion 22d).

[0024] Furthermore, the retaining portion 21c, which is on the other side X2 in the axial direction X from the flow path connection portion 25a1 of the busbar cooling chamber 25a in the cooling flow path 25, is not sealed because it is in close contact with the outer surface of the internal portion 120 of the busbar 10 by insert molding.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, an inlet 251a for the coolant Rf is provided on one side of the first cooling channel 251 of each cooling channel 25 in the extending direction T (one side Z1 in the height direction Z). The inlet 251a is provided in a storage groove 23 provided on the surface 20e1 of one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the housing 20. The storage groove 23 has a transverse groove 23a extending in the width direction Y and a longitudinal groove 23b extending from the transverse groove 23a toward one side X1 in the axial direction X. The storage groove 23 (transverse groove 23a and longitudinal groove 23b) is formed in a concave groove shape. The inlet 251a is located at the bottom of the end of one side X1 in the axial direction X of the longitudinal groove 23b. The lateral groove 23a has side walls 23c formed on one side Y1 and the other side Y2 in the width direction Y, and on one side X1 in the axial direction X, with the other side X2 in the axial direction X being open. Side walls 23c are also provided around the inlet 251a. On one side of the inlet 251a in the extending direction T (one side Z1 in the height direction Z), the inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole 71 of the mounting target 70 is positioned to cover the inlet 251a (see also Figure 3).

[0026] As shown in Figure 6, an outlet 252a for the cooling oil Rf is provided on the other side of the second cooling channel 252 of the cooling channel 25 in the extending direction T (the other side Z2 in the height direction Z). The outlet 252a is provided in a discharge groove 24 provided on the surface 20e2 of the housing 20 on the other side Z2 in the height direction Z. The discharge groove 24 is a recessed groove extending on one side X1 in the axial direction X. An outlet 252a is provided on one side X1 in the axial direction X of the discharge groove 24. The outlet 252a is provided at the bottom of the discharge groove 24. The discharge groove 24 has a side wall 24a formed around the outlet 252a, but the other side X2 in the axial direction X of the discharge groove 24 is open. Furthermore, on the other side of the outlet 252a in the extending direction T (the other side Z2 in the height direction Z), the inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole 71 of the mounting target 70 is positioned to cover the outlet 252a (see also Figure 3).

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the cooling oil Rf in the oil tank 80 is sprayed onto the first connection portion 11 of the busbar 10, which is exposed into the oil tank 80 from the terminal block 1, by an oil pump (not shown) or the like to cool the first connection portion 11. The cooling oil Rf sprayed onto the first connection portion 11 then flows into the first cooling passage 251 of the cooling passage 25 through the inlet 251a from the storage groove 23 provided on one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the housing 20, as indicated by the arrow Rfd. The cooling oil Rf that has flowed into the first cooling passage 251 then flows into the passage connection portion 25a1 on the first cooling passage 251 side. The cooling oil Rf that has flowed into the passage connection portion 25a1 on the first cooling passage 251 side travels along the surface of one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the internal portion 120 of the busbar 10 and flows into the sealed portion 25a2 on the first cooling passage 251 side. Then, as shown in Figure 4, the coolant Rf that flows into the sealed portion 25a2 on the first cooling channel 251 side flows into the sealed portion 25a2 on the second cooling channel 252 side through the gap S. The coolant Rf that flows into the sealed portion 25a2 on the second cooling channel 252 side flows into the second cooling channel 252 through the flow channel connection portion 25a1 on the second cooling channel 252 side. The coolant Rf that flows into the second cooling channel 252 then flows out from the outlet 252a.

[0028] The cooling oil Rf flows and circulates through the cooling channel 25, filling to some extent the busbar cooling chamber 25a on the first cooling channel 251 side and the busbar cooling chamber 25a on the second cooling channel 252 side, which are connected by a gap S. Therefore, the internal part 120 of the busbar 10 provided in the busbar cooling chamber 25a is cooled by the cooling oil Rf that flows into the busbar cooling chamber 25a. In addition, the packing 40 is constantly exposed to the cooling oil Rf while the cooling oil Rf is circulating, as the cooling oil Rf flows into and circulates in the sealed part 25a2 of the busbar cooling chamber 25a.

[0029] The cooling oil Rf that flows out from the outlet 252a is returned to the oil tank 80 either through the discharge channel 24 or directly. Inside the oil tank 80, the heat from the cooling oil Rf is dissipated by an oil cooler (not shown). The dissipated cooling oil Rf is then sprayed onto the terminal block 1 again to cool the busbar 10 and the internal parts 120 of the busbar 10.

[0030] The cooling channel 25 is provided in a straight line along the extending direction T. Therefore, the cooling oil Rf can flow smoothly from the inlet 251a to the outlet 252a due to its own weight. Here, the inlet 251a is located in the vertical groove 23b of the storage groove 23, and the outlet 252a is located in the discharge groove 24. This makes it possible to position the cooling channel 25, which is formed in a straight line along the extending direction T, even at a position X1 on one side of the axial direction X from the oil tank 80 (i.e., outside the oil tank 80), for example, at a position that overlaps with the inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole 71 of the mounting target 70, as in this embodiment. Therefore, the cooling channel 25 can be properly positioned for the internal part 120 at a position X1 on one side of the axial direction X from the first connection part 11 of the busbar 10 that is exposed inside the oil tank 80, thereby increasing the degree of design freedom and efficiently cooling the entire busbar 10.

[0031] Furthermore, the vertical groove 23b of the storage groove 23 is connected to the horizontal groove 23a. This allows the cooling oil Rf to be stored in the horizontal groove 23a, enabling a continuous flow of the cooling oil Rf into the cooling channel 25.

[0032] The terminal block 1 described above comprises a busbar 10 extending in the axial direction X and connected to an external terminal, and a housing 20 that holds the busbar 10. The busbar 10 has an internal portion 120 provided inside the housing 20, and a cooling channel 25 through which a cooling medium, which is a cooling oil Rf, flows is provided inside the housing 20, and the internal portion 120 of the busbar 10 is provided in the cooling channel 25.

[0033] This allows cooling oil Rf to circulate inside the housing 20, enabling cooling of the internal portion 120 of the busbar 10 located in the cooling passage 25. Therefore, not only the first connection portion 11 of the busbar 10 exposed in the oil tank 80, but also the internal portion 120 of the busbar 10 located inside the housing 20 can be cooled by the cooling oil Rf. This increases the contact area between the busbar 10 and the cooling oil Rf, improving cooling efficiency and ensuring proper cooling of the busbar 10 held in the housing 20. Furthermore, since the cooling passage 25 is provided in accordance with the busbar 10, it is easy to accommodate increases or decreases in the number of busbars 10. In addition, the cooling passage 25, which is a through-hole, reduces the amount of resin used in molding the housing 20, resulting in a lighter housing 20 and reduced material costs.

[0034] Furthermore, a packing 40 is provided between the internal part 120 of the busbar 10 and the housing 20, positioned around the axial direction X of the busbar 10, to seal the space between the internal part 120 and the housing 20 with respect to the cooling passage 25. Here, it is known that the compression set of rubber products is less likely to be strained in a wet environment than in a dry environment. Therefore, according to the terminal block 1 of this embodiment, the packing 40 is always exposed to the cooling oil Rf while the cooling oil Rf is circulating, so the compression set rate of the packing 40 can be reduced. Consequently, the sealing performance of the packing 40 can be improved. In addition, by lowering the initial compression ratio setting value when assembling the packing 40 to the housing 20, the housing 20 can be made smaller and the cost reduced, and furthermore, the insertion force of the packing 40 during assembly work is reduced, so the workability of the assembly work can also be improved.

[0035] Furthermore, the cooling channel 25 extends in an extension direction T that intersects the axial direction X perpendicularly, and has an inlet 251a on one side of the extension direction T (one side Z1 in the height direction Z) into which the cooling oil Rf flows, and an outlet 252a on the other side of the extension direction T (the other side Z2 in the height direction Z) into which the cooling oil Rf flows out. As a result, by providing the inlet 251a on the upper side and the outlet 252a on the lower side, the cooling channel 25 is formed in a straight line along the extension direction T, and the cooling oil Rf that flows into the cooling channel 25 can be discharged by its own gravity without the need for equipment such as a circulation pump.

[0036] Furthermore, the inlet 251a is provided in the longitudinal groove 23b of the storage groove 23, which includes a transverse groove 23a extending in the width direction Y and a longitudinal groove 23b extending from the transverse groove 23a in the axial direction X. This allows the inlet 251a to be set to correspond to the internal part 120 at a position further away from the first connection part 11 of the busbar 10 exposed in the oil tank 80 on one side X1 in the axial direction X, thereby enabling more efficient cooling of the entire busbar 10.

[0037] Furthermore, the terminal block according to the embodiment of the present invention described above is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0038] In the above description, the mounting target 70 to which the terminal block 1 is attached is assumed to be part of the oil tank 80. However, the mounting target 70 may be other equipment as long as the system can allow cooling oil Rf to flow into the cooling channel 25 of the housing 20 and recover the flowing cooling oil Rf. Also, in this embodiment, the cooling medium is cooling oil Rf, but other cooling mediums such as cooling water can be used. Furthermore, the cooling channel 25 is not limited to being straight, but can be provided in a bent shape or the like.

[0039] The terminal block according to this embodiment may be constructed by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments and modified examples described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1:Terminal block 10: Busba 20: Housing 23: Storage channel 23a: Horizontal groove section 23b: Vertical groove part 25: Cooling channel 40: Packing 120: Intrinsic part 251a: Inlet 252a: Outlet T: Extending direction X: Axial direction Y: width direction Z: Height direction

Claims

1. A busbar extending in the axial direction and connected to an external terminal, A housing that holds the busbar, Equipped with, The bus bar has an internal portion provided inside the housing, Inside the housing, a cooling channel is provided through which a cooling medium flows. The internal portion of the busbar is provided in the cooling channel. terminal block.

2. Between the internal portion of the busbar and the housing, a packing is provided, which is arranged around the axial direction of the busbar and seals the space between the internal portion and the housing with respect to the cooling passage. The terminal block according to claim 1.

3. The cooling channel extends in an extending direction intersecting the axial direction, and has an inlet on one side of the extending direction through which the cooling medium flows in, and an outlet on the other side of the extending direction through which the cooling medium flows out. The terminal block according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The inlet is provided in the longitudinal groove of a storage groove which includes a transverse groove extending in the width direction intersecting the axial direction and the extension direction, and a longitudinal groove extending from the transverse groove in the axial direction. The terminal block according to claim 3.

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