Bus bar structure
The bus bar structure addresses the issue of space inefficiency by using a thinner conductive plate to accommodate protrusions and thicker plates for stable conduction, resulting in reduced height requirements and efficient space utilization.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022195794
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-12-07
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-17
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-12-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing bus bar structures require extra space in the height direction when bent to avoid other components, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization.
A bus bar structure comprising a thinner first conductive plate portion and thicker second conductive plate portions, allowing the thinner portion to accommodate protruding components and reducing the overall height requirement.
The bus bar structure achieves space savings in the height direction while maintaining stable conduction by using a thinner plate to accommodate protrusions and joining thicker plates for increased contact area.
Smart Images
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Figure 0007693631000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a bus bar structure.
Background Art
[0002] In a battery pack mounted on an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle that runs using an electric motor, a bus bar is used for connecting the electrode portions of a plurality of cells and the like. Also, in an electrical junction box for distributing power supply power to various in-vehicle devices in a vehicle, a bus bar is disposed inside to supply power to a predetermined load circuit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). When there are other components in the routing path of a flat bus bar and the bus bar is routed across the other components, as shown in FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1, the bus bar is routed by bending a part of it so as to avoid the other components.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, when a flat bus bar is bent so as to cross other components, an extra space is required in the thickness direction of the plate, that is, in the height direction which is the direction away from the placement target surface.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a bus bar structure capable of saving space in the height direction.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] In order to achieve the above-described object, the bus bar structure according to the present invention is characterized as follows. A bus bar structure disposed on a placement target surface, A first conductive plate portion having a first thickness, and a second conductive plate portion having a second thickness, are provided. The first thickness is thinner than the second thickness. The first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion continuously extend in a first direction. The first conductive plate portion is configured to be able to accommodate at least a part of a protruding portion protruding from the placement target surface in a space between the first conductive plate portion and the placement target surface. The first conductive plate portion has a first end face extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The second conductive plate portion has a second end face extending in the second direction. The first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are joined to each other at the first end face and the second end face. The first conductive plate portion has a first side face extending in the 1 direction. The second conductive plate portion has a second side face extending in the 1 direction. The first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are joined to each other at the first side face and the second side face. Bus bar structure.
Advantages of the Invention
[0007] According to the present invention, a bus bar structure capable of saving space in the height direction can be provided.
[0008] The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the embodiments (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") for carrying out the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0009]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0010] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the respective drawings.
[0011] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bus bar structure 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the bus bar structure 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a partially enlarged view of the state in which the bus bar structure 1 shown in FIG. 1 is wired. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1, the “front-rear direction”, the “left-right direction”, and the “up-down direction” are defined. The “front-rear direction”, the “left-right direction”, and the “up-down direction” are orthogonal to each other.
[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bus bar structure 1 is assembled between parts and / or devices of an automobile, and is used, for example, for electrical connection in a battery pack used as a power supply for driving a motor of a vehicle.
[0013] The bus bar structure 1 is disposed on the upper surface of the component 53 (see FIG. 3) as an example of the surface to be disposed. The bus bar structure 1 includes a bus bar 11 having a first thickness and bus bars 21 and 23 having a second thickness. The first thickness is thinner than the second thickness. The bus bar 11 is an example of a first conductive plate portion, and the bus bars 21 and 23 are examples of a second conductive plate portion. The bus bar 11 and the bus bars 21 and 23 extend in the front-rear direction. The front-rear direction is an example of a first direction. The bus bar 11 is configured to accommodate at least a part of the component 55 (see FIG. 3) in the space between the bus bar 11 and the surface to be disposed. The component 55 is an example of a protruding portion protruding from the surface to be disposed. The bus bar structure 1 is a bus bar for supplying electric power for vehicle driving, that is, a high-voltage bus bar.
[0014] The bus bar 11 is formed by punching out a conductive metal plate having a first thickness. The bus bar 11 has a shape in which the right front and rear corners of a rectangular shape are cut out in a square shape when viewed in the vertical direction. The bus bar 11 has end faces 11a and 11c extending in the left-right direction and side faces 11b and 11d extending in the front-rear direction. The left-right direction is an example of a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the end faces 11a and 11c are examples of a first end face. The side faces 11b and 11d are examples of a first side face. The bus bar 11 has a dimension in the left-right direction that is larger than the dimension in the left-right direction of the bus bars 21 and 23.
[0015] The bus bars 21 and 23 are conductive metal plates having a second thickness and extending in the front-rear direction, and are formed in a long and flat rectangular parallelepiped shape. The second thickness is thinner than the thickness (first thickness) of the bus bar 11. The bus bar 21 has an end face 21a extending in the left-right direction on the front side. The bus bar 23 has an end face 23a extending in the left-right direction on the rear side. The end faces 21a and 23a are examples of a second end face.
[0016] Since the bus bar 11 is thinner than the bus bars 21 and 23, the bus bar structure 1 can be arranged in a place where the space in the vertical direction, that is, the thickness direction, is limited. Conventionally, when there are other components in the wiring path in a vehicle and the bus bar is routed around in the height direction (thickness direction) to avoid the other components, an extra space is required in the height direction, which is the direction of separation from the surface to be arranged. However, since the bus bar 11 is thinner than the bus bars 21 and 23, a part of the other component can be accommodated in the space reduced by the thickness reduction. Therefore, according to the bus bar structure 1, space saving in the height direction is possible.
[0017] The bus bar 11 and the bus bar 21 are joined to each other by butting the end face 11a and the end face 21a, for example, by laser bonding. The bus bar 11 and the bus bar 23 are joined to each other by the end face 11c and the end face 23a, for example, by laser bonding. By joining the bus bar 11 with different thickness and the bus bars 21 and 23, the bus bar structure 1 can be easily manufactured.
[0018] The bus bar 11 and the bus bar 21 are joined such that the side face 11b of the bus bar 11 and the left side face of the bus bar 21 are joined to each other. The bus bar 11 and the bus bar 23 are joined such that the side face 11d of the bus bar 11 and the side face 23b of the bus bar 23 are joined to each other. By joining the bus bar 11 and the bus bars 21 and 23 in two directions, the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, stable conduction is possible.
[0019] The end face 11a and the side face 11b of the bus bar 11 serve as the joint surfaces with the bus bar 21. The sum of the area of the end face 11a and the area of the side face 11b of the bus bar 11, that is, the area of the joint surface with the bus bar 21, is larger than the area of the end face 21a of the bus bar 21. Also, the end face 11c and the side face 11d of the bus bar 11 serve as the joint surfaces with the bus bar 23. The sum of the area of the end face 11c and the area of the side face 11d of the bus bar 11, that is, the area of the joint surface with the bus bar 23, is larger than the area of the end face 23a of the bus bar 23. Thus, since the areas of the joint surfaces between the bus bar 11 and the bus bars 21 and 23 are larger than the cross-sectional areas of the bus bars 21 and 23, that is, the areas of the end faces 21a and 23a, a current can flow stably between the bus bar 21 and the bus bar 23.
[0020] In the bus bar structure 1, the bus bar 11 and the bus bars 21 and 23 are joined such that their upper surfaces are flush. An arrangement example of the bus bar structure 1 is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the bus bar structure 1 is arranged between the component 51 and the component 53. At this time, even at a location where the component 55 is arranged so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the component 53, since the bus bar 11 is thinner than the bus bars 21 and 23, the upper part of the component 55 can be accommodated in the space below the bus bar 11. In other words, in the bus bar in which the bus bars 21, 11, and 23 are integrated in the bus bar structure 1, a recess 30 is provided on the lower surface of the bus bar 11 by reducing the thicknesses (the second thickness, the predetermined thickness) of the bus bars 21 and 23, and the upper part of the component 55 is accommodated in the recess 30. Therefore, the bus bar structure 1 can save space in the height direction by routing the bus bar 11, which is thinner than the other parts, to a site where the space in the height direction is restricted. Also, the bus bar structure 1 uses the bus bar 11, which is thinner than the bus bars 21 and 23, to secure a joint surface larger than the cross-sectional areas of the bus bars 21 and 23, enabling stable conduction. Thus, according to the bus bar structure 1, it is possible to achieve both space saving in the height direction and stable conduction.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a bus bar structure 1A according to a modified example of the first embodiment. The bus bar structure 1 of the first embodiment described above has a thin bus bar 11 joined to the bus bars 21 and 23 at the abutting surfaces (end surfaces 21a and 23a) and also at the left side surface (side surface 23b). In contrast, in the bus bar structure 1A shown in FIG. 4, the position of the notch provided in the bus bar 13 is different from that of the bus bar 11 of the first embodiment, and the thin bus bar 13 is joined to the bus bars 21 and 23 not only at the abutting surfaces and the left side surface but also at the right side surface. Thus, the thin bus bar 13 may be joined to the bus bars 21 and 23 in three directions. By being joined in three directions, the area of the joint surface between the bus bar 13 and the bus bars 21 and 23 can be increased, so that conduction can be made more stable.
[0022] (Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a bus bar structure 1B of the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the bus bar structure 1B shown in FIG. 5. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 5, "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "up-down direction" are defined. The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "up-down direction" are orthogonal to each other. In the second embodiment, members and parts equivalent to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bus bar structure 1B includes a bus bar 15 having a first thickness, bus bars 21 and 23 having a second thickness, and a bus bar 17 having a third thickness thinner than the second thickness. The first thickness is thinner than the second thickness. The bus bar 15 is an example of a first conductive plate portion, and the bus bar 17 is an example of a third conductive plate portion. The bus bar 15 and the bus bar 17 extend in the front-rear direction. The front-rear direction is an example of a third direction.
[0024] The bus bar 15 is a conductive metal plate having a first thickness and extending in the front-rear direction, and is formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape. The bus bar 15 has end surfaces 15a and 15c extending in the left-right direction and side surfaces 15b and 15d extending in the front-rear direction. The end surfaces 15a and 15c are examples of first end surfaces. The side surface 15b is an example of a first side surface.
[0025] The bus bar 17 has a third thickness and is a conductive metal plate extending in the front-rear direction, and is formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape. The bus bar 17 is formed longer than the bus bar 15. In the present embodiment, the third thickness is the same as the first thickness. The bus bar 17 has a side surface 17a extending in the front-rear direction. The side surface 17a is an example of the third side surface.
[0026] Since the bus bars 15 and 17 are thinner than the bus bars 21 and 23, the bus bar structure 1B can be arranged in a location where the space in the vertical direction, that is, the height direction, is limited. Conventionally, when there are other components in the wiring path in a vehicle and the bus bar is routed around in the height direction to avoid the other components, an extra space in the height direction has been required. However, since the bus bars 15 and 17 are made thinner than the bus bars 21 and 23, a part of the other components can be accommodated in the space corresponding to the reduced thickness. Therefore, according to the bus bar structure 1B, space saving in the height direction is possible.
[0027] The bus bar 15 and the bus bar 21 are joined to each other by abutting the end surface 15a and the end surface 21a, for example, by laser bonding. The bus bar 15 and the bus bar 23 are joined to each other with the end surface 15c and the end surface 23a, for example, by laser bonding. By joining the bus bar 15 having a different thickness with the bus bars 21 and 23, the bus bar structure 1B can be easily manufactured.
[0028] The bus bar 15, the bus bars 21 and 23, and the bus bar 17 are joined such that the side surface 15b of the bus bar 15 and the central portion of the side surface 17a of the bus bar 17 are joined to each other, the front end portion of the left side surface of the bus bar 21 and the rear end portion of the bus bar 17 are joined to each other, and the rear end portion of the side surface 23b of the bus bar 23 and the front end portion of the bus bar 17 are joined to each other. In addition to the bus bar 15 being joined to the bus bars 21 and 23 in the front-rear direction, the bus bar 17 is also joined, so that stable conduction is possible by joining in two directions, the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.
[0029] Since bus bars 15 and 17 are joined at side surfaces 15b and 17a, they function as a single bus bar in the same way as bus bar 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0030] For bus bars 15 and 17, the rear end portions of end surface 15a and side surface 17a serve as the joint surfaces with bus bar 21. The sum of the area of end surface 15a and the area of the rear end portion of side surface 17a that is joined to bus bar 21, that is, the area of the joint surface with bus bar 21, is larger than the area of end surface 21a of bus bar 21. Also, for bus bars 15 and 17, the front end portions of end surface 15c and side surface 17a serve as the joint surfaces with bus bar 23. The sum of the area of end surface 11c and the area of the front end portion of side surface 17a that is joined to bus bar 23, that is, the area of the joint surface with bus bar 23, is larger than the area of end surface 23a of bus bar 23. Thus, since the area of the joint surfaces between bus bars 15 and 17 and bus bars 21 and 23 is larger than the cross-sectional areas of bus bars 21 and 23, that is, the areas of end surfaces 21a and 23a, current can flow stably between bus bar 21 and bus bar 23.
[0031] In bus bar structure 1B, bus bars 15 and 17 and bus bars 21 and 23 are joined such that their respective upper surfaces are flush. According to bus bar structure 1B, similar to bus bar structure 1, it is possible to achieve both space saving in the height direction and stable conduction.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a bus bar structure 1C according to a modified example of the second embodiment. In the bus bar structure 1B of the second embodiment described above, thin bus bars 15 and 17 are joined not only at the abutting surfaces (end surfaces 21a and 23a) with bus bars 21 and 23 but also at the left side surface (side surface 23b). In contrast, the bus bar structure 1C shown in FIG. 7 is different from the bus bar structure 1B in that bus bars 18 and 19 are joined to both the left and right side surfaces of the bus bar 15 instead of the bus bar 17 joined to the left side surface of the bus bar 15. The bus bars 18 and 19 have the same thickness as the bus bars 15 and 17. The bus bars 18 and 19 have a left-right dimension that is half of the left-right dimension of the bus bar 17. The bus bars 18 and 19 are an example of a third conductive plate portion. In this way, the thin bus bars 15, 18, and 19 are joined to the bus bars 18 and 19 on both side surfaces of the bus bar 15, respectively, and function integrally in the same manner as the bus bar 13 shown in FIG. 4. In the bus bar structure 1C, the thin bus bars 15, 18, and 19 are joined to the bus bars 21 and 23 in three directions, so that the area of the joint surface between the thin bus bars 15, 18, and 19 and the bus bars 21 and 23 can be increased, and thus conduction can be made more stable.
[0033] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, dimension, numerical value, form, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited. In the above-described embodiments, a bus bar structure is manufactured by joining bus bars having different thicknesses, but a bus bar structure may be manufactured by cutting or pressing a part of a conductive plate having a uniform thickness to make it thinner.
[0034] Here, the features of the bus bar structure according to the embodiments of the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed as [1] to [7] below.
[0035] [1] A bus bar structure (1, 1A, 1B, 1C) arranged on an arrangement target surface (the upper surface of the component 53), A first conductive plate portion (bus bars 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19) having a first thickness, A second conductive plate portion (bus bars 21, 23) having a second thickness, and the first thickness is thinner than the second thickness, the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion continuously extend in a first direction (front - rear direction), the first conductive plate portion is configured to be able to accommodate at least a part of a protruding portion (component 55) protruding from the placement target surface in a space between the first conductive plate portion and the placement target surface, a bus bar structure (1, 1A, 1B, 1C).
[0036] According to the bus bar structure having the configuration of [1] above, the first conductive plate portion is made thinner than the second conductive plate portion, and at least a part of the protruding portion can be accommodated in the space between the placement target surface and the first conductive plate portion. Therefore, it can be arranged in a place where the space in the height direction, that is, the thickness direction, is limited. Conventionally, when there are other components in the wiring route in a vehicle and the bus bar is arranged in a detour in the height direction to avoid other components, an extra space in the height direction has been required. However, according to the above configuration, since the thickness of the first conductive plate portion is made thinner, a protruding portion such as a part of other components can be accommodated in the space corresponding to the reduced thickness. Therefore, space saving in the height direction is possible.
[0037] [2] The first conductive plate portion (bus bars 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19) has a first end face (end faces 11a, 11c, 15a, 15c) extending in a second direction (left - right direction) intersecting the first direction, the second conductive plate portion has a second end face (end faces 21a, 23a) extending in the second direction, the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are such that the first end face and the second end face are joined to each other, the bus bar structure (1, 1A, 1B, 1C) described in [1] above.
[0038] According to the bus bar structure having the configuration of [2] above, the bus bar structure can be easily manufactured by joining plate materials having different thicknesses.
[0039] [3] The area of the joint surface between the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion is larger than the area of the second end face. The bus bar structure (1, 1A, 1B, 1C) according to [2] above.
[0040] According to the bus bar structure having the configuration of [3] above, since the area of the joint surface between the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion is larger than the area of the second end face of the second conductive plate portion, the allowable current of the second conductive plate portion can be maintained in the first conductive plate portion.
[0041] [4] The first conductive plate portion (bus bars 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19) has a first side surface (side surfaces 11b, 11d) extending in a third direction (front - rear direction) intersecting the first end face. The second conductive plate portion has a second side surface (side surface 23b) extending in the third direction. The first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are joined such that the first side surface and the second side surface are joined to each other. The bus bar structure (1, 1A, 1B, 1C) according to [2] above.
[0042] According to the bus bar structure having the configuration of [4] above, since the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are joined in two directions, the area of the joint surface between the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion can be increased, enabling stable conduction.
[0043] [5] It includes a third conductive plate portion (bus bars 17, 18, 19) having a third thickness thinner than the second thickness. The first conductive plate portion (bus bar 15) has a first side surface (side surface 15b) extending in a third direction (front - rear direction) intersecting the first end face. The second conductive plate portion (bus bars 21, 23) has a second side surface (side surface 23b) extending in the third direction. The third conductive plate portion (bus bars 17, 18, 19) has a third side surface (side surface 17a) extending in the third direction. The first conductive plate portion, the second conductive plate portion, and the third conductive plate portion are joined such that the first side surface and the second side surface and the third side surface are joined to each other. The bus bar structures (1B, 1C) described in [2] above.
[0044] According to the bus bar structure configured as described in [5] above, stable electrical conduction becomes possible because the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are also joined to the third conductive plate portion.
[0045] [6] The first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are bus bars for supplying power for driving a vehicle. The bus bar structures (1, 1A, 1B, 1C) described in any one of [1] to [5] above.
[0046] According to the bus bar structure configured as described in [6] above, for example, it can be used for electrical connection in a battery pack used as a power supply for driving a motor of a vehicle.
[0047] [7] A bus bar structure (1, 1A, 1B, 1C) including bus bars (bus bars 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, bus bars 21, 23) having a predetermined thickness. A recess (30) formed by reducing the thickness is provided in a part of the bus bar. Bus bar structure (1, 1A, 1B, 1C).
[0048] According to the bus bar structure configured as described in [7] above, when there is a protrusion on the surface to be arranged, at least a part of the protrusion can be accommodated in the recess of the bus bar. Therefore, space can be saved in the height direction.
Description of Reference Numerals
[0049] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C Bus bar structure 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23 Bus bars 11a, 11c, 15a, 15c, 21a, 23a End faces 11b, 11d, 15b, 15d, 17a, 23b Side faces 30 Recess 51, 53, 55 Parts
Claims
1. A bus bar structure to be disposed on a target surface to be disposed, a first conductive plate portion having a first thickness, and a second conductive plate portion having a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is thinner than the second thickness, the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion continuously extend in a first direction, the first conductive plate portion is configured to accommodate at least a part of a protruding portion protruding from the target surface in a space between the first conductive plate portion and the target surface, the first conductive plate portion has a first end face extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the second conductive plate portion has a second end face extending in the second direction, the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are joined to each other at the first end face and the second end face, the first conductive plate portion has a first side face extending in the first direction, the second conductive plate portion has a second side face extending in the first direction, the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are joined to each other at the first side face and the second side face, bus bar structure.
2. A bus bar structure to be disposed on a target surface to be disposed, a first conductive plate portion having a first thickness, and a second conductive plate portion having a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is thinner than the second thickness, the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion continuously extend in a first direction, the first conductive plate portion is configured to accommodate at least a part of a protruding portion protruding from the target surface in a space between the first conductive plate portion and the target surface, the first conductive plate portion has a first end face extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the second conductive plate portion has a second end face extending in the second direction, the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are joined to each other at the first end face and the second end face, The first conductive plate portion has a first side surface extending in the first direction, The second conductive plate portion has a second side surface extending in the first direction, and includes a third conductive plate portion having a third thickness thinner than the second thickness, The third conductive plate portion has a third side surface extending in the first direction, The first conductive plate portion, the second conductive plate portion, and the third conductive plate portion are such that the first side surface and the second side surface are joined to the third side surface, a bus bar structure.
3. The area of the joint surface between the first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion is larger than the area of the second end surface, The bus bar structure according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are bus bars for supplying power for vehicle driving, The bus bar structure according to claim 1 or 2.
5. The first conductive plate portion and the second conductive plate portion are bus bars for supplying power for vehicle driving, The bus bar structure according to claim 3.
Citation Information
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