Cable routing module

Abstract

The objective is to provide a cable routing module that allows for the proper placement of excess cable length. [Solution] The cable routing module 1 comprises a cable routing module case 10 having a cable routing path 11a on which a cable routing material W is provided, and a connector 20 having a housing 21 to which one end of the cable routing material W is fixed. The cable routing module case 10 comprises a case body 11 on which the cable routing path 11a is provided, and a hinge structure 15 which is connected to the case body 11 via a hinge 16 on the connector 20 side of the case body 11 and is rotatable around the axis CL of the hinge 16 between an extended position K1 that extends from the case body 11 so as to protrude from the battery module BM and a bent position K2 that approaches the battery module BM, and has a cable routing material fixing part 15c that fixes the cable routing material W on one end facing the connector 20 from the cable routing path 11a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiring module.

Background Art

[0002] As a technology related to a conventional wiring module and a connector, for example, in Patent Document 1, a flat wire attached to a group of power storage elements in which a plurality of power storage elements are integrated, and a wire-side connector that is connected to an end of the flat wire and fits into a device-side connector provided in a control unit of the power storage element group are provided is disclosed. The flat wire has an extra length portion extending from the power storage element group, and a bending restriction plate is laminated on a part of the extra length portion. By the bending restriction plate, the extra length portion is suppressed from freely moving due to vibration or the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, such a wiring module may set the arrangement of the extra length portion of the wiring material in consideration of the arrangement of peripheral components such as the cover of a battery pack, etc., but there is room for further improvement in the arrangement of the extra length portion of the wiring material.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a wiring module capable of appropriately arranging the extra length portion of the wiring material.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the cable routing module of the present invention comprises a cable routing material electrically connected to the electrode terminals of battery cells constituting a battery module, a cable routing module case having a cable routing path on which the cable routing material is provided, and a connector having a housing to which one end of the cable routing material is fixed. The cable routing module case comprises a case body on which the cable routing path is provided, and a hinge structure that is connected to the case body via a hinge on the connector side of the case body, and is rotatably provided around the axis of the hinge between an extended position that extends from the case body so as to protrude from the battery module and a bent position that approaches the battery module, and has a cable routing material fixing part that fixes the cable routing material on the one end facing the connector from the cable routing path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The cable routing module according to the present invention has the effect of allowing the excess length of the cable routing material to be properly positioned. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic front view showing a wiring module equipped with a connector according to the embodiment, assembled to a battery module, with the hinge structure in the extended position. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a plan view of the hinge structure as seen from direction P in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic front view showing a wiring module equipped with a connector according to the embodiment, assembled to a battery module, with the hinge structure in the bent position and the connector mated with the mating connector. [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 wiring module 1 of this embodiment, shown in Figure 1, is included in the busbar module BBM which is assembled to the battery module BM. The wiring module 1 includes a wiring module case 10, wiring material W, and connector 20. Multiple battery cells BC constitute the battery module BM. The battery module BM is a component of the battery pack BP. The battery pack BP may have multiple battery modules BM. The battery pack BP is mounted as a power source in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.

[0011] The busbar module BBM houses multiple busbars (not shown) that are electrically connected to a pair of electrodes (not shown) consisting of a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal in each battery cell BC. The pairs of electrodes of multiple battery cells BC are connected in parallel or in series by multiple busbars. In addition, the electrode terminals of each battery cell BC are electrically connected to a wiring material W via, for example, a voltage detection terminal (not shown). The voltage detection terminal is electrically connected to a busbar, for example, and detects the voltage between the electrode terminals. The wiring material W to which the voltage detection terminal is electrically connected is electrically connected to a monitoring device 100 (see Figure 3) via a connector 20. The connector 20 is formed as a female connector and mates with the connector 110 (mutual connector) of the monitoring device 100, which is formed as a male connector. The voltage of each battery cell BC is monitored by the monitoring device 100.

[0012] In the following explanation, the direction in which connector 20 mates with connector 110 of monitoring device 100 is referred to as the mating direction X, and the two directions perpendicular to and intersecting the mating direction X are referred to as the width direction Y and the height direction Z. The height direction Z is perpendicular to the installation surface BM1 of the battery module BM. Furthermore, in the following explanation, one side of the mating direction X will be referred to as side X1 and the other side as side X2. Similarly, the width direction Y will be referred to as side Y1 (the front side of the page in Figures 1 and 3) and side Y2 (the back side of the page in Figures 1 and 3), and the height direction Z will be referred to as side Z1 and side Z2.

[0013] The positive and negative electrode terminals of the battery cell BC are, although not shown, arranged, for example, on one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the battery cell BC, with one electrode terminal provided on one side Y1 in the width direction Y and the other electrode terminal provided on the other side Y2. The busbar module BBM extends along the mating direction X and is assembled to one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the battery module BM. The cable routing module 1 of the busbar module BBM includes a cable routing module case 10. The cable routing module case 10 has a cable routing path 11a through which the cable routing material W is provided. The cable routing module case 10 has a case body 11 through which the cable routing path 11a is provided and a hinge structure 15. The case body 11 of the cable routing module case 10 is also provided with a cover 11b that covers the cable routing path 11a. The cover 11b is formed in a substantially flat shape with its plate surface facing the height direction Z. The cover 11b is fixed to the case body 11 by a fixing part (not shown).

[0014] The cable routing material W extends in the cable routing path 11a in a direction along the mating direction X and is a flat cable routing material such as an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) or an FFC (Flexible Flat Cable). If the cable routing material W is an FPC, it has a base film, a coverlay, and a conductive layer. The base film and coverlay are flexible insulating resin layers. The conductive layer is sandwiched and protected by the base film and the coverlay. The conductive layer is, for example, a conductive metal foil and has a plurality of circuit patterns that are electrically connected to the aforementioned busbar (not shown) via voltage detection terminals.

[0015] The case body 11 is formed in a substantially flat shape with its plate surface oriented in the height direction Z, extending in the fitting direction X, and is fixed to one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the battery module BM. The routing path 11a through which the routing material W is routed extends along the fitting direction X in the case body 11. The routing path 11a is provided, for example, between the positive and negative electrode terminals in the width direction Y of a plurality of battery cells BC, and is formed in a substantially concave groove shape. In this embodiment, the routing material W, which is a flat routing material, is routed with its flat surface oriented in the height direction Z. The routing material W is routed along the routing path 11a in the direction in which the routing path 11a extends (i.e., the fitting direction X). Bosses or hook-shaped claws are provided in the routing path 11a, and the routing material W is fixed to the routing path 11a.

[0016] The hinge structure 15 is connected to one end X1 in the fitting direction X of the case body 11 via a hinge 16. As shown in Figure 2, the hinge structure 15 is formed with a length in the width direction Y that is approximately the same as the length in the width direction Y of the case body 11. The hinge structure 15 is rotatable around the axis CL of the hinge 16 between an extended position K1 (see Figure 1) where it extends from the case body 11 so as to protrude from the battery module BM, and a folded position K2 (see Figure 3) where it approaches the battery module BM. The hinge structure 15 can rotate from the extended position K1 to the other side Z2 in the height direction Z to reach the folded position K2.

[0017] The hinge structure 15 has a cable fixing portion 15c that fixes the cable material W at one end (one side X1 in the mating direction X) extending from the cable path 11a to the connector 20. Specifically, the cable fixing portion 15c can be, for example, a plurality of bosses that engage with a plurality of through holes provided on the edge of the cable material W, or a plurality of hook-shaped claw portions that engage with the edge of the cable material W. Figure 2 shows a plurality of bosses 15c1 as the cable fixing portion 15c. The cable fixing portion 15c is provided on the surface of the hinge structure 15 on the cover 11b side (the surface on one side Z1 in the height direction Z) when the hinge structure 15 is in the extended position K1. That is, a portion of the cable material W extending from the end of one side X1 in the mating direction X of the cable path 11a to the other side X1 is fixed to the cable fixing portion 15c.

[0018] Furthermore, the hinge structure 15 is provided with a hinge structure-side locking portion 15a. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the hinge structure-side locking portion 15a is provided at two locations opposite each other in the width direction Y, with the cable material W in between. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 1, the case body 11 has a first locking portion 11c1 that the hinge structure-side locking portion 15a locks at the extended position K1 of the hinge structure 15, and a second locking portion 11c2 that the hinge structure-side locking portion 15a locks at the folded position K2 of the hinge structure 15. In this embodiment, the first locking portion 11c1 is provided on the cover 11b. The second locking portion 11c2 is provided on the plate-shaped member 11d. Here, the plate-shaped member 11d is a battery cell BC provided at one end X1 in the fitting direction X, and is provided on the side surface X1 in the fitting direction X of the battery cell BC. The plate-shaped member 11d can also be, for example, an end plate in a battery module BM.

[0019] The hinge structure side locking portion 15a can be provided with, for example, a first protrusion 15a1 protruding from a surface on one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the substantially plate-shaped hinge structure 15 when the hinge structure 15 is located at the extended position K1, and a second protrusion 15a2 protruding from a surface on the other side Z2. The first protrusion 15a1 is formed, for example, in a pin shape and is formed to be press-fitted into a first locking portion 11c1 formed in a concave shape. Further, the second protrusion 15a2 is formed, for example, in a pin shape and is formed to be press-fitted into a second locking portion 11c2 formed in a concave shape. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the hinge structure side locking portion 15a is provided with a claw-shaped locking portion 15a3 protruding in a claw shape toward the cable member W. The claw-shaped locking portion 15a3 can be provided, for example, between the second protrusion 15a2 and a surface on the other side Z2 in the height direction Z of the hinge structure 15 when the hinge structure 15 is located at the extended position K1. The claw-shaped locking portion 15a3 can lock to the edge of the cable member W and fix the cable member W to the hinge structure side locking portion 15a.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, when the hinge structure 15 is located at the extended position K1, the cable member W extends outward from the tip portion 15b of the hinge structure 15. Here, the connector 20 includes a housing 21 that constitutes the housing of the connector 20 and a plurality of terminals 22. One end of the cable member W is fixed to the housing 21 of the connector 20. The housing 21 of the connector 20 is formed in a substantially long rectangular box shape that is long in the width direction Y. One side X1 in the fitting direction X of the housing 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape that is long in the width direction Y and is a terminal holding portion 21a that holds a plurality of terminals 22. In the terminal holding portion 21a, a plurality of terminals 22 are arranged and held in the width direction Y.

[0021] Here, the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a male terminal (not shown). The terminal of the connector 110 is held by a substantially rectangular tubular hood portion (not shown) that is long in the width direction Y formed in the connector 110. The terminal holding portion 21a of the connector 20 is inserted into the hood portion of the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100 along the fitting direction X. When the terminal holding portion 21a is inserted into the hood portion of the connector 110, the terminal 22 of the connector 20, which is a female terminal, and the terminal of the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100, which is a male terminal, are fitted and electrically connected.

[0022] One end of the wiring material W (the end portion on the one side X1 in the fitting direction X of the wiring material W) is fixed to the other side X2 in the fitting direction X of the housing 21 of the connector 20. The wiring material W is fixed to the housing 21 by a fixing member such as a peg for fixing the wiring material W to the housing 21. By fixing the wiring material W to the housing 21 of the connector 20, the plurality of terminals 22 of the connector 20 are electrically connected to the wiring material W.

[0023] The wiring material W is fixed from one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the housing 21 of the connector 20. Therefore, the wiring material W extends on one side Z1 in the height direction Z of the housing 21. [[ID=IO]]

[0024] As described above, the connector 20 is fitted with the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100. The wiring material W has a margin in the length from the tip 15b of the hinge structure portion 15 to the connector 20 at the extended position K1 so that the connector 20 can be reliably fitted with the connector 110 of the monitoring device 1OO. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the wiring material W has an extra-length portion W1 (see also FIG. 1) that is longer than the distance L1 from the tip 15b of the hinge structure portion 15 to the connector 110 in the state where the connector 20 is fitted with the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100.

[0025] The connector 20 and the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100 can be mated when the hinge structure 15 is in the extended position K1 (see Figure 1). After mating the connector 20 and the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100, the excess length W1 is folded by bending the hinge structure 15 to the folded position K2. That is, as shown in Figure 3, at the folded position K2, the hinge structure 15 forms a folded space S between itself and the connector 20 that accommodates the cable material W (excess length W1) with one end folded from the cable material fixing part 15c (i.e., the tip part 15b of the hinge structure 15) toward the connector 20. In the folding space S, the excess length W1 of the cable guide W is folded in such a way that, for example, a first bent portion Wb1 is formed on the excess length W1 of the cable guide W that extends from the tip 15b of the hinge structure 15 (or the cable guide fixing portion 15c on the tip 15b side, see Figure 2) to the other side Z2 in the height direction Z, so as to extend toward one side Z1 in the height direction Z. The excess length W1 of the cable guide W bent at the first bent portion Wb1 extends a predetermined length toward one side Z1 in the height direction Z, and a second bent portion Wb2 is formed where it is bent toward the other side Z2 in the height direction Z just before being fixed to the housing 21 of the connector 20. The cable guide W bent at the second bent portion Wb2 is fixed to the housing 21 of the connector 20. In this way, the excess length W1 of the cable guide W can be reliably folded and positioned.

[0026] In this embodiment, at the bending position K2, the cable W extending from the tip 15b of the hinge structure 15 (specifically, for example, the cable fixing portion 15c on the tip 15b side) extends to the other side Z2 in the height direction Z. On the other hand, the cable W fixed to the housing 21 of the connector 20 extends to the other side Z1 in the height direction Z. Thus, the positional relationship in the height direction Z between the hinge structure 15 and the connector 20 fitted to the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100 at the bending position K2 is set so that a folding space S is formed.

[0027] The cable routing module 1 described above comprises a cable routing material W that is electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cells BC that constitute the battery module BM, a cable routing module case 10 having a cable routing path 11a on which the cable routing material W is provided, and a connector 20 having a housing 21 on which one end of the cable routing material W is fixed. The cable routing module case 10 has a case body 11 on which the cable routing path 11a is provided, and a hinge structure 15 that is connected to the case body 11 via a hinge 16 on the connector 20 side of the case body 11 and is rotatable around the axis CL of the hinge 16 between an extended position K1 that extends from the case body 11 so as to protrude from the battery module BM and a bent position K2 that approaches the battery module BM, and has a cable routing material fixing part 15c that fixes the cable routing material W on one end facing the connector 20 from the cable routing path 11a.

[0028] As a result, after the connector 20 to which the cable guide W is fixed is fitted into the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100, which is the mating connector, the hinge structure 15 is rotated from the extended position K1 to the folded position K2, causing the excess length W1 to fold along the hinge structure 15. In this way, the excess length W1 of the cable guide W can be properly positioned. Proper positioning of the excess length W1 protects the cable guide W and reduces interference between the excess length W1 of the cable guide W and components and equipment around the battery pack BP (battery module BM), such as the battery pack BP cover. Furthermore, since the excess length W1 can be folded by rotating the hinge structure 15, which is easy to operate, the amount of work required to fold the excess length W1 can be reduced.

[0029] Furthermore, at the bending position K2, the hinge structure 15 forms a folding space S between itself and the connector 20, which accommodates the cable routing material W with one end folded from the cable routing material fixing part 15c toward the connector 20. As a result, the excess length W1 of the folded cable routing material W is placed in the folding space S, further reducing the risk of disconnection due to interference with surrounding equipment or components, and protecting the cable routing material W.

[0030] Furthermore, the hinge structure 15 has a hinge structure-side locking portion 15a, and the case body 11 has a first locking portion 11c1 that the hinge structure-side locking portion 15a locks when the hinge structure 15 is in the extended position K1, and a second locking portion 11c2 that the hinge structure-side locking portion 15a locks when the hinge structure 15 is in the folded position K2. As a result, the hinge structure 15 can be fixed when the connector 20 is fitted to the connector 110 of the monitoring device 100, thereby improving workability. Moreover, since the hinge structure 15 can be fixed after the connector 20 is fitted, for example, when the wiring module 1 is assembled to a battery pack BP mounted on a vehicle, the likelihood of the hinge structure 15 unintentionally being in the extended position K1 due to vibration and the folded excess length W1 returning to its original position is reduced. In particular, when a highly resilient FPC is used for the cable material W, the hinge structure 15 can maintain the proper bending position K2 by locking the hinge structure side locking portion 15a and the second locking portion 11c2.

[0031] Furthermore, the wiring module according to the embodiments of the present invention described above is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0032] In the above description, the first locking portion 11c1 is provided on the cover 11b and the second locking portion 11c2 is provided on the plate-shaped member 11d. However, they can also be provided on other parts as long as they can be locked with the hinge structure side locking portion 15a of the hinge structure 15. Furthermore, the fitting structure between the first projection 15a1 and the second projection 15a2 of the hinge structure side locking portion 15a and the first locking portion 11c1 and the second locking portion 11c2 is not limited to press-fit fitting, and other locking structures can also be adopted.

[0033] The cable routing module according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments and modified examples described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 1: Cable routing module 10: Cable management module case 11: Case body 11a: Cabling path 11c1: 1st locking part 11c2:Second locking part 15: Hinge structure 15a: Locking part on the hinge structure side 15c: Routing material fixing part 16: Hinge 20: Connector 21: Housing 22: Terminals 110: Connector BC: Battery cell BM: Battery module CL: Axial center K1:Extended position K2: Folding position S: Folding space W: Routing material W1:Extra length X:Mating direction Y: width direction Z: Height direction

Claims

1. A wiring material that electrically connects to the electrode terminals of the battery cells that make up the battery module, A cable module case having a cable route on which the cable material is provided, A connector having a housing to which one end of the cable routing material is fixed, Equipped with, The cable routing module case comprises a case body on which the cable routing path is provided, and a hinge structure that is connected to the case body via a hinge on the connector side of the case body, and is rotatably provided around the axis of the hinge between an extended position that extends from the case body so as to protrude from the battery module and a folded position that approaches the battery module, and has a cable routing material fixing portion that fixes the cable routing material on one end facing the connector from the cable routing path. Cable routing module.

2. The hinge structure, at the bending position, forms a folding space between itself and the connector, which accommodates the cable material with one end facing the connector from the cable material fixing portion folded. The cable routing module according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned hinge structure has a hinge structure side locking portion, The case body has a first locking portion which engages with the hinge structure side locking portion when the hinge structure is extended, and a second locking portion which engages with the hinge structure side locking portion when the hinge structure is folded. A cable routing module according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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