Connection part cooling structure
The bus bar system addresses the issue of increased size and complexity by integrating a heat-transferable third part directly into the bus bar design, eliminating the need for a terminal block and enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023056901
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-03-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing bus bar systems require a separate cooling terminal block, increasing device size, complicating mounting, and raising costs due to the need for additional installation space and parts.
A bus bar design where a third part protrudes from the first part and directly abuts the cooling unit, eliminating the need for a terminal block by allowing direct heat transfer while maintaining electrical connectivity.
This design enables compact, cost-effective, and efficient heat transfer between the bus bar and the cooling unit, simplifying mounting and reducing electrical resistance by minimizing the bus bar length.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a bus bar for electrically connecting energization targets to each other.
Background Art
[0002] A bus bar usually electrically connects a predetermined first energization target and a second energization target different from the first one.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] The inventors of the present invention considered connecting a part of the bus bar to a cooling unit through a cooling terminal block so as to be heat-transferable to the cooling unit in such a bus bar. However, in this case, the inventors focused on the following problems.
[0005] That is, since a cooling terminal block is required separately from the bus bar, an installation space for the terminal block is required, leading to an increase in the size of the entire device including the bus bar. Furthermore, since the number of parts increases, it leads to complication of the mounting work of the bus bar and its peripheral members and an increase in cost.
[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to connect a bus bar for electrically connecting a first energization target and a second energization target to a cooling unit so as to be heat-transferable without a terminal block.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] The inventors of the present invention have found that the above object can be achieved if the bus bar itself abuts against the cooling part in a state where the bus bar electrically connects the first energization target and the second energization target, and thus the present invention has been achieved. The present invention is a bus bar of the following (1) to (4) and a method for manufacturing the bus bar of the following (5).
[0008] (1) A bus bar that electrically connects a first energization target and a second energization target, a first part electrically connected to the first energization target, a second part protruding from the first part and electrically connected to the second energization target, a third part protruding from the first part separately from the second part and abutting against the cooling part in a state where the first part is electrically connected to the first energization target and the second part is electrically connected to the second energization target, and a bus bar comprising the same.
[0009] According to the present embodiment, in a state where the first part is electrically connected to the first energization target and the second part is electrically connected to the second energization target, a third part protruding from the first part separately from the second part abuts against the cooling part. Therefore, the bus bar that electrically connects the first energization target and the second energization target can be connected to the cooling part in a heat-transferable manner without a terminal block.
[0010] (2) The bus bar according to (1) above, wherein the cooling part includes a cooling part main body of a conductor and a heat transfer sheet of an insulator interposed between the cooling part main body and the third part.
[0011] According to the present embodiment, even if the cooling part main body is a conductor in this way, by interposing the heat transfer sheet of the insulator, while maintaining insulation between the bus bar and the cooling part main body, the bus bar can be connected to the cooling part main body in a heat-transferable manner.
[0012] (3) The first part has a shape that extends in the Y+ direction as one of the predetermined Y directions from a portion electrically connected to the first energization target and then extends in the Z− direction as one of the Z directions orthogonal to the Y direction, The second part and the third part protrude from the tip of the portion extending in the Z-direction in the first part. The second part has a shape that extends at least in the Y+ direction and reaches a portion that is electrically connected to the second energization target. The third part has a shape that at least extends continuously in the Z-direction from the tip and reaches a portion that contacts the cooling part. The bus bar according to (1) or (2) above.
[0013] According to this configuration, in addition to the second part and the third part extending from the tip of the first part respectively, at least the third part extends continuously in the Z-direction from the tip of the first part. Therefore, the bus bar including these first part, second part, and third part has good integrity.
[0014] (4) The bus bar according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the bus bar is formed by bending a single metal plate.
[0015] According to this configuration, by adjusting the bending position, the positions of the second part and the third part with respect to the first part can be easily adjusted.
[0016] (5) A method for manufacturing a bus bar that electrically connects a first energization target and a second energization target, a step of processing a metal plate that is the material of the bus bar, the metal plate including a first region, a second region protruding from the first region, and a third region protruding from the first region separately from the second region; a step of forming a first part that is electrically connected to the first energization target by bending the first region; a step of forming a second part that is electrically connected to the second energization target by bending the second region; a step of forming a third part that contacts the cooling part in a state where the first part is electrically connected to the first energization target and the second part is electrically connected to the second energization target by bending the third region; Method for manufacturing a bus bar including
[0017] According to the manufacturing method of this configuration, the bus bar of (4) above can be manufactured.
Advantages of the Invention
[0018] As described above, according to the bus bar of (1) above, a bus bar that electrically connects a first energization target and a second energization target can be connected to a cooling unit so as to be heat-conductive without a terminal block. Furthermore, according to the bus bars of (2) to (4) above that cite the bus bar of (1) above, and the manufacturing method of (5) above that manufactures the bus bar of (4) above, respective additional effects can be obtained.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0019]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments at all, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0021] [First Embodiment]
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the bus bar 50 of the present embodiment is a conductor such as metal, and electrically connects the first energization target 100 and the second energization target 200. Examples of the first energization target 100 and the second energization target 200 include a battery, various electrical devices, and wiring connected thereto. Examples of the electrical device include a transformer, an inverter, a control device, and the like.
[0023] The bus bar 50 includes a first portion 10, a second portion 20, and a third portion 30. The first portion 10 is electrically connected to the first energization target 100. The second portion 20 is electrically connected to the second energization target 200.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the third portion 30 abuts against the cooling portion 300 in a state where the first portion 10 is electrically connected to the first energization target 100 and the second portion 20 is electrically connected to the second energization target 200. The cooling portion 300 includes a cooling portion main body 340 of a conductor and a heat transfer sheet 330 of an insulator interposed between the cooling portion main body 340 and the third portion 30.
[0025] Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 3, three predetermined directions orthogonal to each other are referred to as the "X direction", "Y direction", and "Z direction". Also hereinafter, one of the X directions is referred to as the "X+ direction", and the opposite direction is referred to as the "X- direction". Also, one of the Y directions is referred to as the "Y+ direction", and the opposite direction is referred to as the "Y- direction". Also, one of the Z directions is referred to as the "Z+ direction", and the opposite direction is referred to as the "Z- direction".
[0026] The first portion 10 is provided with a first through hole 12 for inserting the first bolt B1 in the Z direction. The periphery of the first through hole 12 corresponds to a portion that is electrically connected to the first energization target 100. The first portion 10 has a shape that extends in the Y+ direction from the portion where the first through hole 12 is formed and then extends in the Z- direction. Hereinafter, the end in the Z- direction in the portion of the first portion 10 that extends in the Z- direction is referred to as the "tip 18 of the first portion 10".
[0027] The second portion 20 and the third portion 30 project separately side by side in the X direction from the tip 18 of the first portion 10.
[0028] Specifically, the second part 20 has a shape that extends from a portion closer to the X-direction at the tip 18 of the first part 10, continues to extend in the Z-direction to a certain extent, and then extends in the Y+ direction. However, alternatively, the second part 20 may extend directly in the Y+ direction from the tip 18 of the first part 10. The second part 20 is provided with a second through-hole 27 for inserting the second bolt B2. The periphery of this second through-hole 27 corresponds to a portion that is electrically connected to the second energization target 200.
[0029] On the other hand, the third part 30 has a shape that extends from a portion closer to the X+ direction at the tip of the first part 10, continues to extend in the Z-direction more than the second part 20, and then extends in the Y+ direction. However, alternatively, the third part 30 may extend in the Z-direction more than the second part 20 and then extend in the Y- direction. The portions extending in these Y+ direction or Y- direction correspond to the contact part 38 as the portion that contacts the cooling part 300. Specifically, the surface on the Z-direction side of the contact part 38 contacts the heat transfer sheet 330 of the cooling part 300.
[0030] Next, the manufacturing method of the bus bar 50 shown above will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the metal plate M that becomes the material of the bus bar 50 is processed. The metal plate M has a first region 10r that will later become the first part 10, a second region 20r that will later become the second part 20, and a third region 30r that will later become the third part. The first region is provided with a first through-hole 12, and the second region is provided with a second through-hole 27. The second region 20r and the third region 30r are arranged side by side in the X direction and protrude from the first region 10r in the Z-direction separately from each other.
[0031] Next, the first region 10r, the second region 20r, and the third region 30r are each bent. These steps may be performed simultaneously or one by one.
[0032] In the process of bending the first region 10r, the portion of the first region 10r closer to the +Z direction shown in FIG. 4 is bent 90° toward the -Y direction side to form the first part 10 shown in FIG. 3. In the process of bending the second region 20r, the portion of the second region 20r closer to the -Z direction shown in FIG. 4 is bent toward the +Y side to form the second part 20 shown in FIG. 3. In the process of bending the third region 30r, the portion of the third region 30r closer to the -Z direction shown in FIG. 4 is bent toward the +Y side to form the third part 30 shown in FIG. 3. By the above processes, the bus bar shown in FIG. 3 is processed.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, in the bus bar 50 processed in this way, the first part 10 is electrically connected to the first energization target 100 by the first bolt B1, and the second part 20 is electrically connected to the second energization target 200 by the second bolt B2. Thereby, the bus bar 50 electrically connects the first energization target 100 and the second energization target 200. At this time, the contact portion 38 of the third part 30 contacts the heat transfer sheet 330 of the cooling part 300. Thereby, the third part 30 is heat-transferably connected to the cooling part main body 340 via the heat transfer sheet 330. Note that the heat transfer sheet 330 may be fixed to the cooling part main body 340 by an adhesive or the like, or may be fixed by being sandwiched between the third part 30 and the cooling part main body 340.
[0034] Hereinafter, the bus bar 50 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3, which is modified as shown in FIG. 6, is referred to as a comparative-form bus bar 50c. That is, the comparative-form bus bar 50c is obtained by removing the third part 30 from the bus bar 50 of the present embodiment, expanding the second part 20 in the +Y direction and the +X direction, and providing a third through hole 37 closer to the +X direction in the second part 20. As shown in FIG. 5, a third bolt B3 is inserted through the third through hole 37. By fastening the third bolt B3 to the cooling terminal block 60, the second part 20 is connected to the terminal block 60. The end portion on the -Z direction side of the terminal block 60 contacts the heat transfer sheet 330 of the cooling part 300. Therefore, the second part 20 is heat-transferably connected to the cooling part 300 via the terminal block 60.
[0035] While comparing with this comparative form, the configuration and effects of the present embodiment are summarized below.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, according to the comparative form, a bus bar 50c that electrically connects the first energization target 100 and the second energization target 200 can be connected to the cooling unit 300 via a terminal block 60 so as to be heat-transferable. However, since a terminal block 60 is required separately from the bus bar 50c, it causes an increase in the size of the entire device including the bus bar 50c. Furthermore, since the number of parts increases, it leads to complication of the mounting work of the bus bar 50c and its peripheral members and an increase in cost. In addition to fastening the first bolt B1 and the second bolt B2, fastening of the third bolt B3 is also required, so the mounting work becomes complicated also in this respect.
[0037] In that regard, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in a state where the first part 10 is electrically connected to the first energization target 100 and the second part 20 is electrically connected to the second energization target 200, a third part 30 protruding from the first part 10 contacts the cooling unit 300 separately from the second part 20. Therefore, the bus bar 50 that electrically connects the first energization target 100 and the second energization target 200 can be connected to the cooling unit 300 via heat transfer without a terminal block 60. This leads to a compactification of the entire device including the bus bar 50. Moreover, the distance between the first energization target 100 and the second energization target 200 can be shortened by the installation space of the cooling terminal block 60. Therefore, the length of the bus bar 50 can be shortened by that amount to reduce the electrical resistance. Furthermore, since the number of parts decreases, the mounting work of the bus bar 50 and its peripheral members becomes easier, leading to cost reduction. Also, since only fastening of the first bolt B1 and the second bolt B2 is sufficient, the mounting work becomes easier also in this respect.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling unit 300 includes a cooling unit main body 340 of a conductor and a heat transfer sheet 330 of an insulator interposed between the cooling unit main body 340 and the third unit 30. Therefore, even if the cooling unit main body 340 is a conductor in this way, by interposing the heat transfer sheet 330, while maintaining the insulation between the bus bar 50 and the cooling unit main body 340, the bus bar 50 can be connected to the cooling unit main body 340 in a heat transferable manner.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the second unit 20 and the third unit 30 extending from the tip 18 of the first unit 10 respectively, at least the third unit 30 continues to extend in the Z - direction from the tip 18 of the first unit 10. Therefore, the bus bar including these first unit 10, second unit 20, and third unit 30 has good integrity.
[0040] The bus bar 50 is formed by bending a single metal plate M shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, by adjusting the bending position, the positions of the second through - hole 27 and the contact portion 38 with respect to the first through - hole 12 shown in FIG. 3 can be easily adjusted.
[0041] [Other Embodiments] The embodiments shown above can be modified as follows, for example. Instead of the first through - hole 12 and the second through - hole 27 shown in FIG. 3, notches for inserting bolts B1, B2 in the Z - direction may be provided. The first unit 10, the second unit 20, and the third unit 30 may be bent at an angle greater than 90° or at a smaller angle. The first unit 10, the second unit 20, and the third unit 30 may have additional configurations.
Description of Reference Numerals
[0042] 10 First unit 18 Tip of the first unit 10r First region 20 Second unit 20r Second region 30 Third unit 30r Third region 50 Bus bar 100 First energization target 200 Second energization target 300 Cooling section 330 Heat transfer sheet 340 Cooling section body M Metal plate
Claims
1. A bus bar connecting a first energization target, a second energization target, and a cooling unit, a predetermined first part, a second part protruding from the first part, and a third part protruding from the first part separately from the second part, and when the first part is electrically connected to the first energization target and the second part is electrically connected to the second energization target, so that the first energization target and the second energization target are electrically connected to each other via the bus bar, the third part and the cooling unit are electrically insulated from each other and are in contact with each other in a state where heat transfer is possible, a bus bar, including the cooling unit, a connection part cooling structure, wherein the third part and the cooling unit are in contact with each other in a state where they are electrically insulated from each other and heat transfer is possible.
2. The connection part cooling structure according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit includes a cooling unit main body of a conductor and a heat transfer sheet of an insulator interposed between the cooling unit main body and the third part.
3. The first part extends in a Y+ direction as one of a predetermined Y direction from a portion electrically connected to the first energization target, and then extends in a Z− direction as one of a Z direction orthogonal to the Y direction, the second part and the third part protrude from a tip of the portion of the first part extending in the Z− direction, the second part has a shape extending at least in the Y+ direction to reach a portion electrically connected to the second energization target, the third part has a shape extending at least continuously in the Z− direction from the tip and reaching a portion in contact with the cooling unit, the connection part cooling structure according to claim 1 or 2.
4. A portion of the third part in contact with the cooling unit extends in the Y direction, the first part and the second part are bolted in the Z direction, the connection part cooling structure according to claim 3.
5. The connection part cooling structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bus bar is formed by bending a single metal plate.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
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