Circuit structure

Abstract

To provide a circuit configuration body that can reduce a mount area occupied by a heat conductive member in a housing and improve the heat dissipation efficiency of a heat generating component using an energizing bus bar.SOLUTION: A circuit configuration body 10 includes a heat generating component 22 and an energizing bus bar 26. The energizing bus bar 26 has a hollow tube path 32 including a first opening 28 opening to one end portion of the energizing bus bar 26 and a second opening 30 opening to the other end portion of the energizing bus bar, the first opening and the second opening extending through the energizing bus bar 26. The energizing bus bar 26 includes a first connection pipe 60 that is fluid-tightly connected to one end portion of the energizing bus bar 26, surrounds the first opening 28, and communicates with the first opening 28, a second connection pipe 62 that is fluid-tightly connected to the other end portion of the energizing bus bar 26, surrounds the second opening 30 and communicates with the second opening 30. The first connection pipe 60 has a first pipe connecting port 68 connectable to a refrigerant source 34, and the second connection pipe 62 has a second pipe connecting port 70 connectable to the refrigerant source 34.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a circuit assembly including a heat-generating component. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles have been equipped with circuit configurations including heat-generating components such as relays. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a circuit configuration in which a first bus bar connected to an output terminal of a battery, a second bus bar connected to an input terminal of a load, and a relay connected between the first and second bus bars are housed in a case. In this type of circuit configuration, in order to dissipate heat generated by the relay, which is a heat-generating component, to the outside, a structure is adopted in which the bus bar connected to the relay is pressed against the housing of the battery, which is the heat dissipation target, via a sheet-like heat conduction member and an insulating member, and the heat of the relay is transferred to the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-93711 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the structure of Patent Document 1 requires that the bus bar be in contact with the heat dissipation target via a thermally conductive member. Furthermore, a thermally conductive member must be interposed between the bus bar and the heat dissipation target to accommodate tolerances. This inevitably reduces heat dissipation efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, a circuit assembly is disclosed that can reduce the mounting area occupied by the heat conduction member within the housing and improve the heat dissipation efficiency of heat-generating components that use current-carrying bus bars. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The circuit structure disclosed herein includes a heat-generating component and an electrical busbar connected to a connection portion of the heat-generating component, the electrical busbar having a bolt fastening portion with a bolt insertion hole and a hollow conduit extending through the interior of the electrical busbar and including a first opening opening at one longitudinal end of the electrical busbar and a second opening opening at the other longitudinal end, the electrical busbar further having a first connecting pipe fluid-tightly connected to the one longitudinal end of the electrical busbar and surrounding the first opening in communication with the first opening, and a second connecting pipe fluid-tightly connected to the other longitudinal end of the electrical busbar and surrounding the second opening in communication with the second opening, the first connecting pipe having a first conduit connection port connectable to an external refrigerant source, and the second connecting pipe having a second conduit connection port connectable to the refrigerant source. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a circuit structure that can reduce the mounting area occupied by the heat conduction member within the housing and improve the heat dissipation efficiency of heat-generating components using current-carrying bus bars. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a circuit assembly according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for schematically explaining a specific example of the electrical configuration of the circuit assembly shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the circuit assembly shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view showing a lower assembly constituting the circuit structure shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the lower assembly shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper case is removed from the circuit assembly according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] <Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The circuit configuration of the present disclosure comprises: a heat-generating component; and an electric busbar connected to a connection portion of the heat-generating component, wherein the electric busbar has a bolt fastening portion having a bolt insertion hole and a hollow conduit extending through the interior of the electric busbar and including a first opening opening at one longitudinal end of the electric busbar and a second opening opening at the other longitudinal end, wherein the electric busbar further has a first connecting pipe fluid-tightly connected to the one longitudinal end of the electric busbar and surrounding the first opening to communicate with the first opening, and a second connecting pipe fluid-tightly connected to the other longitudinal end of the electric busbar and surrounding the second opening to communicate with the second opening, wherein the first connecting pipe has a first conduit connection port connectable to an external refrigerant source, and the second connecting pipe has a second conduit connection port connectable to the refrigerant source.

[0010] According to the circuit assembly of the present disclosure, an electric busbar connected to a connecting portion of a heat-generating component has a bolt fastening portion and a hollow conduit. Furthermore, a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe, which are respectively connected to opposite ends of the electric busbar in a fluid-tight manner and have a first opening and a second opening communicating with each other, are provided in the connecting pipes, respectively, with a first conduit connection port and a second conduit connection port that can be connected to an external refrigerant source. This allows the electric busbar connected to the connecting portion of the heat-generating component to flow through the hollow conduit inside the electric busbar. sourceThe heat-generating components can be kept cooled by the refrigerant from the heat-generating components. As a result, the heat generated by the heat-generating components can be quickly dissipated directly by the current-carrying bus bars connected to the connection portions of the heat-generating components. Therefore, compared to conventional structures, the mounting area occupied by the heat-conducting members within the housing can be reduced, and the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat-generating components using the current-carrying bus bars can be advantageously improved.

[0011] Furthermore, by utilizing the interior of the current-carrying busbar to provide a hollow conduit through which the refrigerant flows, it is possible to promote cooling of heat-generating components while meeting space-saving requirements.In addition, the current-carrying busbar is provided with bolt fastening portions with bolt insertion holes, which makes it easy to fasten the current-carrying busbar to the connecting portions of heat-generating components and other intervening busbars, ensuring the same workability as a general current-carrying busbar.

[0012] The refrigerant can be taken from a refrigerant source installed in the vehicle, and any available refrigerant can be used, but preferably, a refrigerant such as Fluorinert, which is an insulator, can be used.

[0013] It is preferable that the first pipe line connection port of the first connecting pipe body protrudes and opens to the side of the energizing bus bar and is connected to a refrigerant supply pipe line that supplies refrigerant from the refrigerant source, and the second pipe line connection port of the second connecting pipe body protrudes and opens to the side of the energizing bus bar and is connected to a refrigerant return pipe line that returns the refrigerant to the refrigerant source.

[0014] The first and second conduit connection ports of the first and second connecting pipes each protrude and open laterally from the energizing busbar. This facilitates connecting the refrigerant supply and return conduits to the first and second openings of the hollow conduits of the energizing busbar, improving assembly workability. As a result, refrigerant from the refrigerant source is supplied from the refrigerant supply conduit through the first opening of the hollow conduit of the energizing busbar. The refrigerant that flows through the hollow conduit is discharged from the second opening of the hollow conduit and returned to the refrigerant source via the refrigerant return conduit. Furthermore, because the first and second conduit connection ports each protrude laterally from the energizing busbar, space for assembling the refrigerant supply and return conduits can be secured outside the routing area of the energizing busbar, further improving assembly workability. Furthermore, since the first and second pipe connection ports are each provided to protrude from the side of the energizing bus bar, the height of the circuit assembly can be reduced even when the refrigerant supply pipe and refrigerant return pipe are assembled, thereby advantageously meeting the demand for space saving.

[0015] Preferably, the current-carrying busbar includes a central region extending across a widthwise central portion by a predetermined width and a pair of side regions extending across the central region by a predetermined width on both sides of the central region in the widthwise direction, wherein the central region is solid throughout the entire length in the longitudinal direction except for the bolt insertion holes, and at least one of the side regions is provided with the hollow conduit extending through the central region in the longitudinal direction. Since the central region is provided with the bolt insertion holes in the widthwise central portion, a bolt fastening portion can be provided in the widthwise central portion of the current-carrying busbar, enabling stable bolt fastening. Furthermore, since the central region is solid throughout the entire length in the longitudinal direction except for the bolt insertion holes and the side regions are provided with the hollow conduit extending through the longitudinal direction, the central region and the pair of side regions of the current-carrying busbar having the special structure disclosed herein can be easily manufactured by extrusion molding.

[0016] Preferably, the bolted portions of the energizing busbar are directly bolted to the connection portions of the heat-generating components. By directly bolting the bolted portions of the energizing busbar to the connection portions of the heat-generating components, heat generated in the heat-generating components can be directly transferred from the connection portions to the energizing busbar, and the heat can be quickly dissipated by the energizing busbar through which the refrigerant circulates. As a result, the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat-generating components can be further improved compared to conventional structures that require the busbar to be routed to the heat dissipation target.

[0017] Preferably, the bolt fastening portions of the current-carrying busbar include a first bolt fastening portion provided at the one end and a second bolt fastening portion provided at the other end, and the first bolt fastening portion and the second bolt fastening portion are directly bolted to the connection portions of the pair of adjacently arranged heat-generating components. By connecting the connection portions of the adjacently arranged heat-generating components to the first bolt fastening portion and the second bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying busbar, respectively, the current-carrying busbar of the present disclosure can be fastened directly to the pair of heat-generating components, and heat can be dissipated from the heat-generating components via the current-carrying busbar with good heat dissipation efficiency. Moreover, because the installation distance of the current-carrying busbar with the special structure of the present disclosure can be shortened while maintaining its superior heat dissipation efficiency, improved heat dissipation efficiency of the heat-generating components can be achieved in a compact design and at low cost.

[0018] Preferably, the connection portions of the pair of adjacently arranged heat-generating components are provided so as to open onto a top surface of the heat-generating component, and the energizing busbar is placed on the top surface of the pair of heat-generating components. By connecting the first and second bolt fastening portions of the energizing busbar to the connection portions provided on the top surfaces of the pair of heat-generating components, the energizing busbar can be placed on the top surfaces of the heat-generating components. As a result, even if excess length is provided to accommodate tolerances in the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant return pipe routed from both ends of the energizing busbar, the height dimensions of the heat-generating components ensure space to accommodate the excess length, further improving the ease of assembly of the circuit assembly.

[0019] Preferably, the opening direction of the connection portion of the heat-generating component and the opening direction of the bolt-fastened portion of the current-carrying busbar are perpendicular to each other, and the connection portion and the bolt-fastened portion are connected by fastening both ends of a connecting fitting bent into an L-shape relative to the connection portion and the bolt-fastened portion with bolts. The connection portion and the bolt-fastened portion are connected by fastening both ends of the connecting fitting bent into an L-shape relative to the connection portion and the bolt-fastened portion with bolts. Therefore, for example, even if it is difficult to directly connect the bolt-fastened portion of the current-carrying busbar to the connection portion of the heat-generating component due to the arrangement of the heat-generating component, the connection portion and the bolt-fastened portion can be connected over a short connection distance via a separate L-shaped connecting fitting. As a result, even if it is difficult to directly connect the bolt-fastened portion of the current-carrying busbar to the connection portion of the heat-generating component, a reduction in the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat-generating component can be advantageously suppressed.

[0020] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Specific examples of the circuit configuration of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0021] <Embodiment 1> A circuit assembly 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. As shown in a specific example of a circuit diagram in FIG. 2, the circuit assembly 10 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown), such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and supplies and controls power from a power source 12, such as a battery, to a load 14, such as a motor. As shown in FIG. 2, a fuse 16, a precharge relay 18, a precharge resistor 20, and the like, which are provided in a circuit extending from the power source 12 to the load 14, may also be mounted inside the circuit assembly 10. However, in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7, the portions A and A' in FIG. 2, which are essential parts of the present disclosure, will be described as the circuit assembly 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit assembly 10 includes the portions A and A', which are essential parts. However, because these portions have similar shapes, only the portion A will be described, and a description of the other portion A' will be omitted.

[0022] The circuit assembly 10 can be arranged in any orientation, but in the following description, upper refers to upper in Fig. 6, lower refers to lower in Fig. 6, front refers to right in Fig. 5, rear refers to left in Fig. 5, left refers to lower in Fig. 5, and right refers to upper in Fig. 5. Furthermore, for multiple identical components, reference numerals may be assigned to only some of the components, and reference numerals may be omitted for other components.

[0023] <Circuit construct 10> The circuit assembly 10 includes a relay 22 as a heat-generating component and an energizing bus bar 26 connected to a connection portion 24 of the relay 22. The energizing bus bar 26 has a hollow conduit 32 including a first opening 28 and a second opening 30. A refrigerant supply conduit 36 that supplies refrigerant from a refrigerant source 34 (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 ) is connected to the first opening 28 of the hollow conduit 32, and a refrigerant return conduit 38 that returns the refrigerant to the refrigerant source 34 is connected to the second opening 30 of the hollow conduit 32.

[0024] <Heat-generating component (relay 22)> In the first embodiment, a pair of relays 22, 22 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, with a first relay 22a on the left and a second relay 22b on the right. These first and second relays 22a, 22b are arranged relatively close to each other, with the first and second relays 22a, 22b arranged adjacent to each other. The first and second relays 22a, 22b each include a relay body 40, 40 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Both the first and second relays 22a, 22b are arranged facing upward, and a pair of connecting portions 24, 24 are provided on a top surface 41 of each of the first and second relays 22a, 22b, spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction.

[0025] That is, the first relay 22a is provided with a positive electrode side first connection portion 24a and a negative electrode side first connection portion 24b, and the second relay 22b is provided with a positive electrode side second connection portion 24c and a negative electrode side second connection portion 24d. In short, the respective connection portions (positive electrode side and negative electrode side first connection portions 24a, 24b, positive electrode side and negative electrode side second connection portions 24c, 24d) of a pair of adjacently arranged heat-generating components (first and second relays 22a, 22b) are provided so as to open on the respective top surfaces 41 of the heat-generating components (first and second relays 22a, 22b).

[0026] In the first embodiment, the first and second relays 22a, 22b are each rotationally symmetrical about a central axis extending in the vertical direction, including the legs 46 (described later). The second relay 22b is disposed rotated 180 degrees about the central axis extending in the vertical direction relative to the first relay 22a. As a result, in the first embodiment, the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c are disposed spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, and the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a and the negative electrode side second connection portion 24d are disposed spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c are connected by the current-carrying bus bar 26, so that the first relay 22a and the second relay 22b are electrically connected in series, as shown in FIG.

[0027] Specifically, the current-carrying busbar 26 is provided with a pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52, which will be described later, and the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c are in communication with the pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52. A bolt 42 is inserted into each of the pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52, and the bolt 42 is fastened to the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c, respectively. As a result, each of the bolt fastening portions 54 (first bolt fastening portion 54a and second bolt fastening portion 54b, which will be described later) of the current-carrying busbar 26 is directly bolt-fastened to the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c.

[0028] 2, a conductive member such as a bus bar is connected to the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a, and in the first embodiment, the conductive member extends to the outside of a case 78 (described later) of the circuit structure 10 via the fuse 16 and is electrically connected to a positive electrode side terminal of the power source 12. Similarly, a conductive member such as a bus bar is connected to the negative electrode side second connection portion 24d, and the conductive member extends to the outside of a case 78 (described later) of the circuit structure 10 and is electrically connected to a negative electrode side terminal of the load 14. Note that a precharge circuit 43 including a precharge relay 18 and a precharge resistor 20 is provided between the conductive member connected to the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a and the energizing bus bar 26 so as to bypass the first relay 22a.

[0029] 2, a conductive member such as a bus bar is connected to the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b of the first relay 22a, and the conductive member extends to the outside of a case 78 (described later) of the circuit assembly 10 and is electrically connected to a negative electrode side terminal of the power source 12. Similarly, a conductive member such as a bus bar is connected to the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c of the second relay 22b, and the conductive member extends to the outside of a case 78 (described later) of the circuit assembly 10 and is electrically connected to a positive electrode side terminal of the load 14. Furthermore, for the main portion A' in FIG. 2, the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a and the negative electrode side second connection portion 24d are electrically connected by the current-carrying bus bar 26. That is, in the main part A' in Figure 2, two connection parts (positive side first connection part 24a and negative side second connection part 24d) located at the rear of the lower side assembly 97 described later and shown in Figure 4 etc. are connected by the current-carrying bus bar 26.

[0030] Furthermore, partition plates 44 are provided to protrude upward between the positive electrode side first connection portion 24a and the negative electrode side first connection portion 24b of the first relay 22a, and between the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c and the negative electrode side second connection portion 24d of the second relay 22b, to separate the relays from each other. Furthermore, legs 46 are provided at the lower end of each relay body 40, protruding outward on both sides in the front-to-rear direction. These legs 46 are provided with bolt insertion holes 48 that penetrate in the vertical direction, and bolts 50 are inserted into the bolt insertion holes 48 to fix the first and second relays 22a, 22b to a lower case 82 that constitutes a case 78 (described later).

[0031] <Electrical bus bar 26> The current-carrying bus bar 26 has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped bus bar body 51 extending in the left-right direction as a whole. The busbar body 51 is formed of a metal with good conductivity, such as copper (including copper alloys) or aluminum (including aluminum alloys). The busbar body 51 has a bolt fastening portion 54 having a bolt insertion hole 52, and a hollow conduit 32 that extends through the interior of the current-carrying busbar 26 and includes a first opening 28 that opens at one end (left end) of the current-carrying busbar 26 in the longitudinal direction and a second opening 30 that opens at the other end (right end). In other words, the portion of the busbar body 51 surrounding the circular bolt insertion hole 52 is the bolt fastening portion 54.

[0032] In the first embodiment, a pair of bolt insertion holes 52 (bolt fastening portions 54) are provided in the central portion of the busbar body 51 in the width direction (front-rear direction) and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction). That is, a first bolt fastening portion 54a is provided at one end (left end) of the busbar body 51, and a second bolt fastening portion 54b is provided at the other end (right end), and the bolt fastening portions 54 include the first bolt fastening portion 54a and the second bolt fastening portion 54b. Each of the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a and 54b has a bolt insertion hole 52. Note that the method for forming such a busbar body 51 is not limited, but in the first embodiment, the busbar body 51 is formed by extrusion molding.

[0033] 6, the busbar body 51 includes a central region 56 extending by a predetermined width in the central portion in the width direction (front-rear direction), and a pair of side regions 58, 58 extending by predetermined widths on both sides of the width direction of the central region 56. When the busbar body 51 is extrusion-molded, the central region 56 is formed solid over the entire length in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction), and a pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52 are formed after molding of the busbar body 51. As a result, the central region 56 is formed solid over the entire length in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) except for the bolt insertion holes 52.

[0034] 6 and 7, hollow conduits 32 extending over the entire longitudinal length are provided in each of the pair of side regions 58. The size, cross-sectional shape, number, etc. of the hollow conduits 32 are not limited, but in the first embodiment, five hollow conduits 32 each having a substantially rectangular cross section are provided in each side region 58, spaced apart from one another in the front-to-rear direction. Each of the total ten hollow conduits 32 opens into the first openings 28 and the second openings 30 at both the left and right ends.

[0035] Furthermore, the current-carrying busbar 26 has a first connecting pipe 60 that is fluid-tightly connected to one end (left end) of the busbar body 51 and surrounds each of the first openings 28 to communicate with each of the first openings 28, and a second connecting pipe 62 that is fluid-tightly connected to the other end (right end) of the busbar body 51 and surrounds each of the second openings 30 to communicate with each of the second openings 30. These first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 are each a hollow pipe extending in the front-to-rear direction, and each have a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 64 and an inner hole 66 that extends inside the peripheral wall 64 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0036] The first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 each have a closed rear opening and an open front opening. The front openings of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 serve as a first pipe connection port 68 and a second pipe connection port 70, to which the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are connected, respectively. The first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 are preferably made of metal, but do not need to be made of the same material as the busbar body 51, and do not need to exhibit good electrical conductivity. In other words, the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 do not need to exhibit electrical conductivity and may be made of, for example, an insulating synthetic resin.

[0037] Furthermore, through holes 72 for connection to both ends of the busbar main body 51 are formed in each peripheral wall 64 of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62. That is, each through hole 72 has a rectangular shape that roughly corresponds to both ends of the busbar main body 51, and is formed to penetrate in the radial direction (left-right direction) at an inner portion in the opposing direction (left-right direction) of each peripheral wall 64. One end (left end) of the busbar main body 51 is inserted into the through hole 72 of the first connecting pipe 60, and the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 64 and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 72 are fixed to each other by welding, adhesive, or the like, thereby connecting one end of the busbar main body 51 and the first connecting pipe 60 in a fluid-tight manner.

[0038] Similarly, the other end (right end) of the busbar body 51 is inserted into the through hole 72 of the second connecting pipe 62, and the outer circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 64 and the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 72 are fixed to each other by welding, adhesive, or the like, thereby fluid-tightly connecting the other end of the busbar body 51 to the second connecting pipe 62. In the first embodiment, the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 protrude forward to the sides of the busbar body 51, and openings (first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70) of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 are provided forward in the protruding direction.

[0039] As a result, the first openings 28 of the hollow ducts 32 provided at the left end of the busbar body 51 open into the peripheral wall 64 of the first connecting pipe 60, and each hollow duct 32 communicates with the inner hole 66 of the first connecting pipe 60. Similarly, the second openings 30 of the hollow ducts 32 provided at the right end of the busbar body 51 open into the peripheral wall 64 of the second connecting pipe 62, and each hollow duct 32 communicates with the inner hole 66 of the second connecting pipe 62.

[0040] <Refrigerant supply line 36 and refrigerant return line 38> In the first embodiment, the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38 are each formed of a rubber tube made of rubber (including elastomer), allowing the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38 to be flexibly and elastically deformable. That is, the first conduit connection port 68 of the first connecting pipe 60 is inserted in a substantially press-fit state into the rear opening of the refrigerant supply line 36, thereby fluid-tightly connecting the first connecting pipe 60 and the refrigerant supply line 36. Similarly, the second conduit connection port 70 of the second connecting pipe 62 is inserted in a substantially press-fit state into the rear opening of the refrigerant return line 38, thereby fluid-tightly connecting the second connecting pipe 62 and the refrigerant return line 38. As a result, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 extend forward from the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62, respectively, with the inner holes 74 in the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 communicating with the inner holes 66 in the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62, respectively.

[0041] 3, the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38 may each have a predetermined shape, and may have a shape that extends forward from the first line connecting port 68 and the second line connecting port 70, bends downward, and then extends forward again at their lower ends. Alternatively, the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38 do not need to have a specific shape, and may be sandwiched and supported between an upper case 80 and a lower case 82, which will be described later, during assembly of the circuit assembly 10, so that the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38 are arranged to bend downward relative to the first and second line connecting ports 68, 70.

[0042] The ends of the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 opposite to the ends connected to the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 are connected to the refrigerant source 34. By connecting the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 to the refrigerant source 34 in this manner, a refrigerant flow path 76 is formed that runs from the refrigerant source 34 via the refrigerant supply pipe 36, the first connecting pipe 60, the bus bar main body 51 (each hollow pipe 32), the second connecting pipe 62, and the refrigerant return pipe 38 and returns to the refrigerant source 34.

[0043] The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 76 is not limited, but is preferably insulating. For example, Fluorinert (registered trademark) or Novec (registered trademark) manufactured by 3M Company may be used. The refrigerant source 34 may be, for example, a separate chiller (cooling water circulation system) including a pump (not shown), or a chiller already installed in the vehicle. By using a chiller including a pump as the refrigerant source 34, the refrigerant can be circulated through the refrigerant flow path 76. The location of the pump is not limited to the refrigerant source 34 (i.e., between the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38), but may be located anywhere along the refrigerant flow path 76.

[0044] <Case 78> In the first embodiment, the first and second relays 22a, 22b, the energizing bus bar 26, etc. are housed in a case 78 made of synthetic resin, metal, etc. In particular, in the first embodiment, the case 78 is composed of an upper case 80 on the upper side and a lower case 82 on the lower side, and the upper case 80 and the lower case 82 are configured to be attachable to and detachable from each other in the vertical direction. Note that in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7, the first and second relays 22a, 22b, the energizing bus bar 26, etc. that constitute the main part A in FIG. 2 are housed in the case 78. However, as described above, the case 78 may also house the first and second relays 22a, 22b, the energizing bus bar 26, the fuse 16, the pre-charge relay 18, the pre-charge resistor 20, etc. that constitute the main part A' in FIG. 2 in addition to these.

[0045] The upper case 80 has a generally box-like shape that opens downward overall, and includes an upper bottom wall 84 that is generally rectangular in plan view, and an upper peripheral wall 86 that protrudes downward from the outer periphery of the upper bottom wall 84. A pipe insertion portion 88, through which the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 that protrude forward are inserted, is provided in the front portion of the upper peripheral wall 86. The pipe insertion portion 88 opens downward and penetrates in the front-to-rear direction.

[0046] The lower case 82 has a generally box-like shape that opens upward, and includes a bottom wall 90 that is generally rectangular in plan view, and a lower peripheral wall 92 that protrudes upward from the outer periphery of the bottom wall 90. The bottom wall 90 is provided with a pair of relay mounting portions 94, 94 that protrude upward, and the first and second relays 22a, 22b are mounted on each relay mounting portion 94, respectively. In addition, a pipe support portion 96 that protrudes upward is provided at the front portion of the lower peripheral wall 92, and supports the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38.

[0047] <Assembly process of the circuit assembly 10> Next, a specific example of the process of assembling the circuit assembly 10 will be described. Note that the process of assembling the circuit assembly 10 is not limited to the following description.

[0048] First, the first and second relays 22a, 22b are placed facing upward on the respective relay mounting portions 94 of the lower case 82 and fixed in place with the respective bolts 50. Thereafter, the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b of the energizing bus bar 26 are placed on the respective top surfaces 41 of the first and second relays 22a, 22b in front of the respective partition plates 44, overlapping with each other, to connect the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c with the respective bolt insertion holes 52. Then, the respective bolts 42 are inserted into the respective bolt insertion holes 52 and fastened to the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c, thereby fixing the energizing bus bar 26 to the first and second relays 22a, 22b with the bolts.

[0049] Next, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are connected to the first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70 of the first and second connecting pipe bodies 60, 62, respectively. This completes the lower assembly 97 as shown in Figures 4 to 7. Note that the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 may be fixed to the first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70 before the energizing bus bar 26 is fixed to the first and second relays 22a, 22b.

[0050] Thereafter, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 extending forward from the first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70 are placed on the respective pipe support portions 96 of the lower case 82, and the upper case 80 is assembled to the lower case 82 from above, and the lower case 82 and the upper case 80 are fixed together using a locking mechanism (not shown). This completes the case 78, and with it, the circuit assembly 10. In the circuit assembly 10, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are sandwiched between the pipe insertion portions 88 and the pipe support portions 96 in the vertical direction, and the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 protrude forward beyond the case 78.

[0051] The circuit assembly 10 assembled as described above is housed and disposed in the housing of a battery pack of, for example, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, or the like. The ends of the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 of the circuit assembly 10 opposite the ends connected to the first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70 are connected to the refrigerant source 34. As also shown in FIG. 2 , the positive electrode first connection portion 24a of the main part A is electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal of the power source 12, and the negative electrode second connection portion 24d is electrically connected to the negative electrode terminal of the load 14. Furthermore, the negative electrode first connection portion 24b of the main part A′ is electrically connected to the negative electrode terminal of the power source 12, and the positive electrode second connection portion 24c is electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal of the load 14.

[0052] 2, in the first embodiment, a conductive member such as a bus bar is electrically connected to an intermediate portion of each of the current-carrying bus bars 26 in the main portions A and A', and a capacitor 98 and an inverter 100 are connected in parallel to each of the conductive members. That is, in an electric circuit that runs from the power source 12 via the circuit assembly 10 in the main portion A, the load 14, and the circuit assembly 10 in the main portion A' back to the power source 12, the capacitor 98 and the inverter 100 are branched and connected downstream of the first relay 22a in the main portion A (upstream of the second relay 22b) and upstream of the first relay 22a in the main portion A' (downstream of the second relay 22b). The inverter 100 can be connected to, for example, a household outlet or the like via a cable or the like, and can convert power obtained from a household power source into direct current and store the power in the capacitor 98.

[0053] In the circuit assembly 10 connected to the electric circuit as described above, when the first and second relays 22a, 22b in the main part A and the first and second relays 22a, 22b in the main part A' are both ON, power is supplied from the power source 12 to the load 14, driving, for example, a motor, which is a specific example of the load 14. Even when the first relay 22a in the main part A is cut off due to, for example, detection of an abnormal current, electricity bypasses the first relay 22a and flows through the precharge circuit 43, supplying power from the power source 12 to the load 14 and driving, for example, a motor. When the fuse 16 and the first relays 22a in the main parts A and A' are turned OFF due to, for example, detection of an abnormal current (during a power failure), the second relays 22b in the main parts A and A' are turned ON, thereby completing a power path from the capacitor 98 to the load 14. This allows the power stored in the capacitor 98 to be supplied to the load 14, driving, for example, a motor.

[0054] Alternatively, by turning on each of the first relays 22a in the main parts A and A' and turning off each of the second relays 22b, a power path is formed from the power source 12 to the inverter 100. This allows the power of the power source 12 to be converted into AC power and extracted as household power via a cable or the like connected to the inverter 100.

[0055] According to the circuit assembly 10 described above, when current is applied to the first and second relays 22a, 22b in the main parts A, A', the first and second relays 22a, 22b generate heat, but the energizing bus bars 26 connecting the first and second relays 22a, 22b are provided with hollow conduits 32, and a refrigerant flow path 76 through which the refrigerant flows is configured, including the hollow conduits 32. By allowing the refrigerant to flow inside the energizing bus bars 26 in this way, it is possible to prevent a temperature rise in the energizing bus bars 26 and also to eliminate heat generated in the first and second relays 22a, 22b.

[0056] Furthermore, because the refrigerant flow path 76 is configured to include each hollow conduit 32 provided inside the energizing bus bar 26, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the energizing bus bar 26 and, in turn, the circuit assembly 10, compared to when the refrigerant flow path is provided outside the energizing bus bar 26. In particular, because the cooling structure can be realized using the energizing bus bar 26, there is no need to provide a separate structure for heat dissipation, etc., which provides the effects of simplifying the structure and improving work efficiency, etc.

[0057] The energizing busbar 26 has first and second connecting pipes 60, 62, and the first opening 28, which is one opening of each hollow pipe 32, is connected to the refrigerant supply pipe 36 via the first connecting pipe 60, and the second opening 30, which is the other opening of each hollow pipe 32, is connected to the refrigerant return pipe 38 via the second connecting pipe 62. In other words, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38, which are made of rubber tubes, are connected to the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62, which are tubular, rather than directly to the energizing busbar 26. This makes it easy to connect the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 to each hollow pipe 32, and also ensures stable liquid-tightness in the refrigerant flow path 76.

[0058] Furthermore, the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 protrude forward from the busbar body 51, and the front openings of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 form first and second pipe connection ports 68, 70, respectively. That is, the refrigerant that flows from each hollow pipe 32 into the inner holes 66 of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 is prevented from flowing rearward of each hollow pipe 32, and the risk of the refrigerant stagnation in the portions of the inner holes 66 of the first and second connecting pipes 60, 62 rearward of each hollow pipe 32 can be reduced.

[0059] The busbar body 51 of the current-carrying busbar 26 has a central region 56 in the widthwise center and a pair of side regions 58, 58 on both sides in the widthwise direction. The central region 56 is solid except for the bolt insertion holes 52 and is formed with a constant cross-sectional shape over the entire length of the busbar body 51 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction), and each side region 58 is provided with a plurality of hollow conduits 32 extending over the entire length of the busbar body 51 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the busbar body 51 has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape over the entire length of the busbar body 51 except for the bolt insertion holes 52, and the busbar body 51 can be easily manufactured by forming the bolt insertion holes 52 after extrusion molding.

[0060] The bolt fastening portions 54 (first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b) of the current-carrying bus bar 26 are directly bolted to the negative-side first connecting portion 24b and the positive-side second connecting portion 24c of the first and second relays 22a, 22b. This allows the current-carrying bus bar 26, which provides cooling, to be in direct contact with the first and second relays 22a, 22b, which are heat-generating components, thereby improving cooling efficiency. Furthermore, no other components are used to connect the current-carrying bus bar 26 and the first and second relays 22a, 22b, which also avoids an increase in the number of components.

[0061] In particular, the first and second relays 22a, 22b are disposed adjacent to each other, and the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b of the energizing bus bar 26 are directly bolted to the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c of the first and second relays 22a, 22b. This makes it possible to reduce the length of the energizing bus bar 26 and connect the first and second relays 22a, 22b over a short distance, thereby improving energization efficiency.

[0062] The first and second relays 22a, 22b are disposed facing upward, the connection portions 24 of the first and second relays 22a, 22b open to the top surfaces 41 of the first and second relays 22a, 22b, and the energizing busbar 26 is placed on the top surfaces 41 of the first and second relays 22a, 22b. This ensures a sufficient vertical dimension for the first and second relays 22a, 22b, and this vertical dimension can be used to arrange the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38, for example, by bending them downward. Furthermore, by forming the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38 from an elastically deformable material such as rubber, the tolerance between the energizing busbar 26 and the refrigerant source 34 can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38. In particular, by providing bent portions in advance in the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38, the bent portions are preferentially elastically deformed, and the tolerance absorption effect due to elastic deformation can be more stably exerted.

[0063] <Embodiment 2> Next, a circuit configuration 110 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The circuit configuration 110 according to the second embodiment has a similar basic structure to the circuit configuration 10 according to the first embodiment, but differs in that, whereas the first and second relays 22a, 22b are arranged facing upward in the circuit configuration 10 according to the first embodiment, the first and second relays 112a, 112b are arranged facing forward in the circuit configuration 110 according to the second embodiment. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be described, and components and parts that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment will be denoted in the drawings with the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] 8 also shows the main parts A and A' of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 2, and the inside of the case 78 of the circuit structure 110 can accommodate not only the first and second relays 112a and 112b and the energizing bus bar 26 that constitute the main part A, but also the first and second relays 112a and 112b and the energizing bus bar 26, the fuse 16, the pre-charge relay 18, the pre-charge resistor 20, etc. that constitute the main part A'.

[0065] <First and second relays 112a, 112b> As described above, in the second embodiment, the first and second relays 112a, 112b are disposed facing forward. That is, the positive and negative first connection portions 24a, 24b of the first relay 112a and the positive and negative second connection portions 24c, 24d of the second relay 112b are both open on the front surface 114 of the first and second relays 112a, 112b. The negative electrode side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connection portion 24c, which are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, are electrically connected in series by the current-carrying bus bar 26.

[0066] In the second embodiment, the structure of the current-carrying busbar 26 is the same as in the first embodiment. A pair of bolt insertion holes 52, 52 (i.e., first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b) is provided on both left and right sides of the busbar main body 51, and first and second connection pipe bodies 60, 62 are connected to the left and right ends of the busbar main body 51, respectively. In other words, in the second embodiment, the negative electrode-side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode-side second connection portion 24c both open forward, and the bolt insertion holes 52 in the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b open in the vertical direction. As a result, the opening direction of the negative electrode-side first connection portion 24b and the positive electrode-side second connection portion 24c and the opening direction of the bolt insertion holes 52 in the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b are mutually perpendicular.

[0067] <Connecting Fitting 118> The negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c are connected to the first and second bolt fastening portions 54b by connecting fittings 118 bent into an L shape. That is, each connecting fitting 118 includes an upper fitting 120 and a lower fitting 122 each having a substantially rectangular plate shape, and these upper fitting 120 and lower fitting 122 are connected by a bent portion 124. Furthermore, each of these upper fittings 120 and lower fittings 122 has a bolt insertion hole (not shown) that penetrates through in the plate thickness direction; in other words, bolt insertion holes are formed at both longitudinal ends of each connecting fitting 118.

[0068] Then, the upper fittings 120 of each connecting fitting 118 are overlapped from the front with the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c, and the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c are aligned with the bolt insertion holes of each upper fitting 120. Bolts 126 are inserted into these bolt insertion holes and fastened to the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c, thereby fastening the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c to each upper fitting 120 with the bolts.

[0069] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, a pair of nut accommodating portions 128, 128 that protrude upward from the bottom wall portion 90 are provided at a distance in the left-right direction in the front portion of the lower case 82, and a nut (not shown) is accommodated in the upper end of each nut accommodating portion 128. The current-carrying bus bar 26 is placed from above onto each of these nut accommodating portions 128, and the lower fittings 122 of each connecting fitting 118 are overlapped from above onto the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b of the current-carrying bus bar 26.

[0070] This aligns the bolt insertion holes of the lower fittings 122, the bolt insertion holes 52 of the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b, and the nuts in the nut accommodating portions 128 with one another. Bolts 130 are inserted through the bolt insertion holes of the lower fittings 122 and the bolt insertion holes 52 of the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b and fastened to the nuts in the nut accommodating portions 128, thereby fastening the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b to the lower fittings 122 with bolts. As a result, the negative electrode side first connecting portion 24b and the positive electrode side second connecting portion 24c are connected to the first and second bolt fastening portions 54a, 54b via the connecting fittings 118 by bolt fastening.

[0071] In the circuit assembly 110 of the second embodiment having the above-described structure, heat generated when current is applied to the first and second relays 112a, 112b is transferred to the energizing bus bar 26 via the connecting fittings 118, but the heat generated in the first and second relays 112a, 112b is dissipated by the cooling effect caused by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 76 configured to include the hollow conduits 32 provided in the energizing bus bar 26. Therefore, the circuit assembly 110 of the second embodiment can also achieve the same effects as the circuit assembly 10 of the first embodiment.

[0072] In particular, in the second embodiment, the first and second relays 112a, 112b are arranged facing forward, which reduces the vertical dimensions of the first and second relays 112a, 112b and, ultimately, the circuit assembly 110. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the energizing bus bar 26 is placed on the top surface 41 of each of the first and second relays 22a, 22b, and the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38 connected to the energizing bus bar 26 are bent downward. However, in the second embodiment, the energizing bus bar 26 is placed on each of the nut accommodating portions 128 in the lower case 82, and the refrigerant supply line 36 and the refrigerant return line 38 do not bend vertically but extend straight forward. This prevents the refrigerant from flowing vertically through the refrigerant flow path 76, thereby improving the flow efficiency of the refrigerant.

[0073] <Other embodiments> The technology described in this specification is not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the technology described in this specification.

[0074] (1) As described above, the circuit configurations 10, 110 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 8 illustrate a state in which the first relays 22a, 112a and second relays 22b, 112b and the energizing bus bar 26 in the main part A in FIG. 2 are housed in the case 78. In addition to these, the case 78 can also house the first relays 22a, 112a and second relays 22b, 112b, the energizing bus bar 26, the fuse 16, the pre-charge relay 18, the pre-charge resistor 20, etc. in the main part A′.

[0075] The electrical circuit diagram shown in FIG. 2 is merely one specific example of an electrical circuit to which the circuit assembly of the present disclosure is applied. The case constituting the circuit assembly can accommodate conventionally known electrical components and the like in an appropriate connection manner. Thus, in the above embodiment, the connection portion of the heat-generating component (the negative-side first connection portion 24b of the first relay 22a, 112a or the positive-side second connection portion 24c of the second relay 22b, 112b) is directly or indirectly connected to either of the bolt fastening portions 54 (the first bolt fastening portion 54a and the second bolt fastening portion 54b) of the energizing bus bar 26. However, this is not limiting. That is, it is sufficient that the connection portion of the heat-generating component is connected to a bolt fastening portion provided on at least one end of the energizing bus bar. The other end of the energizing bus bar may be connected to, for example, another energizing bus bar. The shape of the case constituting the circuit assembly of the present disclosure can be appropriately modified to suit the electrical components and the like accommodated therein.

[0076] (2) In the above embodiment, insulating refrigerants such as Fluorinert (registered trademark) and Novec (registered trademark) are used as examples of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 76. However, it is also possible to use a conductive refrigerant by providing an insulating coating or film on the inner surface of the hollow conduit provided in the current-carrying bus bar, and water, for example, may also be used as the refrigerant.

[0077] (3) In the above embodiment, five hollow ducts 32 each having a substantially rectangular shape are provided in each side region 58 of the busbar body 51. However, this is not limited to this. The cross-sectional shape of the hollow ducts may be circular (including oval, ellipse, semicircle, etc.), triangular, or polygonal with pentagons or more. The number of hollow ducts in each side region is also not limited, and may be one to four, or six or more. Note that hollow ducts do not need to be provided in both the front and rear side regions of the busbar body; they may be provided in only one side region in the front-rear direction.

[0078] (4) In the above embodiment, the refrigerant supply pipe 36 and the refrigerant return pipe 38 are each made of rubber pipes and are elastically deformable. However, they may be made of, for example, a hard material.

[0079] (5) In the above embodiment, the first relays 22 a, 112 a and the second relays 22 b, 112 b are used as examples of heat-generating components, but the present invention is not limited to this. Conventionally known heat-generating components such as fuses may also be used as heat-generating components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 10 Circuit structure (embodiment 1) 12 Power supply 14 Load 16. Fuse 18 Precharge relay 20 Precharge resistor 22 Relay (heat generating component) 22a 1st Relay 22b 2nd Relay 24 Connection 24a Positive side first connection part 24b Negative electrode first connection part 24c Positive side second connection part 24d Negative side second connection part 26 Current-carrying bus bar 28 First Opening 30 Second Opening 32 Hollow pipe 34 Refrigerant source 36 Refrigerant supply pipe 38 Refrigerant return line 40 Relay body 41 Top 42 volts 43 Precharge circuit 44 Divider 46 Legs 48 Bolt insertion hole 50 volts 51 Busbar body 52 Bolt insertion hole 54 Bolt fastening part 54a First bolt fastening part 54b Second bolt fastening part 56 Central area 58 Lateral area 60 First connecting pipe body 62 Second connecting pipe body 64 Peripheral wall 66 Inner hole 68 1st pipeline connection port 70 2nd pipeline connection port 72 Through hole 74 Inner hole 76 Refrigerant distribution route 78 cases 80 Upper Case 82 Lower case 84 Upper bottom wall 86 Upper peripheral wall 88 Pipe insertion part 90 Bottom wall 92 Lower peripheral wall 94 Relay mounting section 96 Pipe support part 97 Lower assembly 98 Capacitor 100 inverters 110 Circuit structure (embodiment 2) 112a 1st Relay 112b Second Relay 114 Front 118 Connection fittings 120 Upper bracket 122 Lower bracket 124 Bent part 126 volts 128 Nut receiving section 130 volts A,A' Main part

Claims

1. A heat-generating component; a current-carrying bus bar connected to the connection portion of the heat-generating component, the current-carrying bus bar includes a bolt fastening portion having a bolt insertion hole, and a hollow conduit extending through the inside of the current-carrying bus bar and including a first opening opening at one end in a longitudinal direction of the current-carrying bus bar and a second opening opening at the other end, the current-carrying bus bar further includes a first connection pipe that is fluid-tightly connected to the one end of the current-carrying bus bar, surrounding the first opening and communicating with the first opening, and a second connection pipe that is fluid-tightly connected to the other end of the current-carrying bus bar, surrounding the second opening and communicating with the second opening, the first connecting pipe has a first pipe connection port connectable to an external refrigerant source; The second connecting pipe has a second pipe connection port connectable to the refrigerant source.

2. the first pipe connection port of the first connecting pipe body projects and opens to a side of the current-carrying bus bar, and is connected to a refrigerant supply pipe that supplies a refrigerant from the refrigerant source; 2. The circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second pipe connection port of the second connecting pipe body protrudes and opens to a side of the energizing bus bar, and a refrigerant return pipe that returns the refrigerant to the refrigerant source is connected to the second pipe connection port.

3. the current-carrying bus bar includes a central region extending at a central portion in a width direction by a predetermined width, and a pair of side regions extending at predetermined widths on both sides of the central region in the width direction, The central region is formed solidly over the entire length in the longitudinal direction except for the bolt insertion holes, 3. The circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the hollow conduit is provided in at least one of the side regions and penetrates the longitudinal direction.

4. 3. The circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bolt-fastened portion of the current-carrying bus bar is directly bolted to the connection portion of the heat-generating component.

5. the bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying bus bar includes a first bolt fastening portion provided on the one end side and a second bolt fastening portion provided on the other end side, 3. The circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first bolt fastening portion and the second bolt fastening portion are directly bolted to the respective connection portions of a pair of the heat generating components arranged adjacent to each other.

6. the connecting portions of the pair of adjacently arranged heat generating components are provided so as to open on a top surface of each of the heat generating components, The circuit assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the current-carrying bus bar is placed on the top surfaces of the pair of heat-generating components.

7. 3. The circuit structure according to claim 1, wherein an opening direction of the connection portion of the heat-generating component and an opening direction of the bolt fastening portion of the current-carrying bus bar are perpendicular to each other, and the connection portion and the bolt fastening portion are connected by fastening both ends of a connecting fitting bent in an L shape relative to the connection portion and the bolt fastening portion with bolts.

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