Terminal block and busbar connection structure

Abstract

To simplify the peripheral structure of the busbar connection portion.SOLUTION: A terminal block supports a busbar connection portion as a connection portion between multiple busbars. The terminal block includes an insulating terminal block main body, a conductive heat transfer portion, and an insulating protrusion. The terminal block main body can be fastened to a conductive base from the Z+ side. The heat transfer portion is attached to the terminal block main body so as to be exposed on both sides in the Z direction from the terminal block main body. The busbar connection portion can be fastened to the end of this heat transfer portion on the Z+ side. The protrusion protrudes from the terminal block main body in the X direction and can be fastened to the base. An insulating heat transfer sheet can be interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base. A busbar other than the multiple busbars and an insulating heat transfer sheet can be interposed between the protrusion and the base, in this order from the Z+ side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal block for supporting a connection portion between a plurality of bus bars, and a bus bar connection structure using the terminal block. [Background technology]

[0002] Some busbar connection structures cool busbars by physically connecting the busbars to a cooling unit while electrically insulating the busbars from the cooling unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6623392 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although this type of busbar connection structure can cool the connection between the busbars, it can only cool the busbar at one location at the connection. Therefore, if another busbar located near the connection between the busbars also needs to be cooled, a separate cooling structure is required to cool that busbar. This makes the structure around the connection between the busbars complicated.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to simplify the peripheral structure of the connection portion between bus bars. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The inventors discovered that the peripheral structure of the busbar connection can be simplified by using a terminal block for supporting the busbar connection and pressing a portion of another busbar against a heat transfer sheet, and arrived at the present invention. The present invention relates to the following terminal blocks (1) to (3) and busbar connection structures (4) and (5).

[0007] (1) A terminal block for supporting a busbar connection portion as a connection portion between multiple busbars, a terminal block body made of an insulator configured to be fastened to a conductive base from a Z+ side, which is one side in a predetermined Z direction; a heat transfer portion of a conductor attached to the terminal block body so as to be exposed on both sides in the Z direction from the terminal block body, and configured so that the bus bar connection portion can be fastened to an end portion on the Z+ side; an insulator protruding from the terminal block body in an X direction perpendicular to the Z direction, the insulator protruding portion being configured to be fastened to the base; A heat transfer sheet made of an insulating material can be interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base, a bus bar other than the plurality of bus bars and an insulating heat transfer sheet can be interposed between the protrusion and the base, in this order from the Z+ side; terminal block.

[0008] According to this configuration, the protrusion on the terminal block for supporting the busbar connection portion can press a portion of another busbar against the heat transfer sheet for cooling. This allows the terminal block for supporting the busbar connection portion and the pressing member for pressing a portion of another busbar against the heat transfer sheet to be combined into a single component. This simplifies the peripheral structure of the connection portion between the busbars.

[0009] (2) the terminal block body extends in a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Z direction; The terminal block body has two opposite ends sandwiching the heat transfer portion in the Y direction, and the two opposite ends are configured to be fastened to the base. The protrusion protrudes in the X direction from a middle portion of the terminal block body in the Y direction. The terminal block according to (1) above.

[0010] According to this configuration, the terminal block is fixed to the base in a balanced manner by fixing both side portions of the terminal block main body that sandwich the heat transfer portion in the Y direction and the protruding portion that protrudes in the X direction from the middle portion of the terminal block main body in the Y direction.

[0011] (3) The terminal block body and the protrusion are integrally formed. The terminal block according to (1) or (2).

[0012] According to this configuration, the configuration of the terminal block can be simplified.

[0013] (4) A terminal block according to any one of (1) to (3), an insulating heat transfer sheet is interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base; a bus bar other than the plurality of bus bars and an insulating heat transfer sheet are interposed between the protrusion and the base in this order from the Z+ side; Busbar connection structure.

[0014] With this bus bar connection structure, the peripheral structure of the bus bar connection portion can be simplified, as in the case of the terminal block (1) above.

[0015] (5) A part of a predetermined heat transfer sheet is interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base, Another part of the predetermined heat transfer sheet is interposed between the protrusion and the base. The bus bar connection structure according to (4) above.

[0016] According to this configuration, the heat transfer sheet interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base and the heat transfer sheet interposed between the protrusion and the base are combined into one specified heat transfer sheet, thereby reducing the number of parts in the bus bar connection structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] As described above, the configurations (1) and (4) can simplify the peripheral structure of the busbar connection portion. Furthermore, the configurations (2), (3), and (5) that refer to the configurations (1) and (4) can provide additional effects. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the terminal block and its periphery according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the terminal block and its surroundings. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a bus bar connection portion is attached to a terminal block. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line fg4-fg4 in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line fg5-fg5 in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a terminal block and its periphery in a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] 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 and can be appropriately modified and implemented within the scope of the present invention.

[0020] [First embodiment] The busbar connection structure 50 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a structure for holding four busbars B1 to B4. Hereinafter, three predetermined directions that are perpendicular to one another will be referred to as the "X direction," "Y direction," and "Z direction." One side of the X direction will be referred to as the "X- side," and the opposite side will be referred to as the "X+ side." One side of the Y direction will be referred to as the "Y- side," and the opposite side will be referred to as the "Y+ side." One side of the Z direction will be referred to as the "Z- side," and the opposite side will be referred to as the "Z+ side." In this embodiment, the "Z+ side" is the "upper side," and the "Z- side" is the "lower side." Therefore, the X direction and the Y direction are horizontal directions.

[0021] The four bus bars B1 to B4 are a first bus bar B1, a second bus bar B2, a third bus bar B3, and a fourth bus bar B4 shown in FIG. 2. Each of the four bus bars B1 to B4 is a conductor for electrically connecting a predetermined portion to another portion. As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the first bus bar B1 and one end of the second bus bar B2 are electrically connected to each other. Hereinafter, the electrically connected portions of the first bus bar B1 and the second bus bar B2 are referred to as "bus bar connection portions Bc."

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, the bus bar connection structure 50 includes a terminal block 30 and a heat transfer sheet 40. The heat transfer sheet 40 is an insulating sheet and is provided along the Z+ side surface of the conductive base 70. The terminal block 30 is provided on the Z+ side of the heat transfer sheet 40. As shown in Fig. 3, the terminal block 30 is a member for supporting the bus bar connection portion Bc.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 1, the terminal block 30 includes a terminal block main body 32a, a protrusion 32b, and a heat transfer portion 35. Furthermore, the terminal block 30 includes a first fastening portion 34 and a second fastening portion 36 as shown in Fig. 5, and also includes a third fastening portion 38 as shown in Fig. 4. Hereinafter, the first fastening portion 34, the second fastening portion 36, and the third fastening portion 38 will be referred to as "fastening portions 34, 36, 38."

[0024] The terminal block body 32a and the protruding portion 32b shown in Fig. 1 are made of an insulating material such as resin and are integrally formed. The heat transfer portion 35 and the three fastening portions 34, 36, and 38 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are made of a conductor such as metal.

[0025] 5, terminal block body 32a extends in the Y direction. A first fastening part 34, a heat transfer part 35, and a second fastening part 36 are attached to terminal block body 32a in this order from the Y- side to the Y+ side so as to be exposed on both sides in the Z direction.

[0026] The first fastening portion 34 and the second fastening portion 36 are provided with bolt-through holes 34h, 36h that penetrate in the Z direction. As a result, the first fastening portion 34 and the second fastening portion 36 are configured to be fastenable to the base 70 by bolts bt at both sides of the terminal block main body 32a that sandwich the heat transfer portion 35 in the Y direction. In fact, the first fastening portion 34 and the second fastening portion 36 are fastened to the base 70 by bolts bt.

[0027] The heat transfer portion 35 is provided with a female screw hole 35h that opens to the Z+ side. Therefore, the heat transfer portion 35 is configured so that the bus bar connection portion Bc can be fastened to the end portion on the Z+ side with a bolt bt. In fact, the bus bar connection portion Bc is fastened to the end portion on the Z+ side of the heat transfer portion 35 with the bolt bt.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, the protrusion 32b protrudes from the middle of the terminal block main body 32a in the Y direction toward the X-side. As shown in Fig. 4, a third fastening portion 38 is attached to the X-side end of the protrusion 32b so as to be exposed on both sides in the Z direction. The third fastening portion 38 is provided with a bolt-through hole 38h that penetrates in the Z direction. As a result, the third fastening portion 38 is configured to be fastenable to the base 70 by a bolt bt at the X-side end of the protrusion 32b. In fact, the third fastening portion 38 is fastened to the base 70 by the bolt bt.

[0029] 5, a heat transfer sheet 40 is interposed between the heat transfer portion 35 and the base 70. As a result, the bus bar connection portion Bc of the conductor is connected to the base 70 of the conductor via the heat transfer portion 35 of the conductor and the heat transfer sheet 40 of the insulator in a manner that allows heat transfer while being electrically insulated.

[0030] 4, a third bus bar B3 and a heat transfer sheet 40 are interposed, in order from the Z+ side, between the base 70 and a portion of the protruding portion 32b on the X+ side of the third fastening portion 38. Furthermore, a fourth bus bar B4 and a heat transfer sheet 40 are interposed, in order from the Z+ side, between the base 70 and a portion of the protruding portion 32b on the X+ side of the portion that abuts against the third bus bar B3. As a result, the third and fourth bus bars B3 and B4, which are conductors, are connected to the conductor base 70 via the insulating heat transfer sheet 40 in a manner that allows heat transfer while being electrically insulated.

[0031] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the protrusion 32b of the present embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is eliminated and a pressing member 39 shown in Fig. 6 is provided instead will be referred to as a comparative embodiment. This pressing member 39 is a dedicated member for pressing the third bus bar B3 and the fourth bus bar B4 against the heat transfer sheet 40.

[0032] The configuration and effects of this embodiment will be summarized below in comparison with a comparative embodiment.

[0033] According to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the protrusions 32b on the terminal block 30 for supporting the bus bar connection portions Bc press the third bus bar B3 and the fourth bus bar B4 against the heat transfer sheet 40, thereby promoting cooling. As a result, the terminal block 30 and the pressing member 39 in the comparative example shown in Fig. 6 can be combined into one terminal block 30 as shown in Fig. 1. As a result, the peripheral structure of the terminal block 30 can be simplified.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 5, the first fastening portion 34 and the second fastening portion 36 on both sides of the terminal block main body 32a that sandwich the heat transfer portion in the Y direction are fastened to the base 70. As shown in Fig. 3, the protrusion 32b protrudes toward the X-side from the middle of the terminal block main body 32a in the Y direction. As shown in Fig. 4, the third fastening portion 38 on the protrusion 32b is also fastened to the base 70. By attaching these three distributed fastening portions 34, 36, and 38 to the base 70, the terminal block 30 is fastened to the base 70 in a balanced manner, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0035] 1, the terminal block body 32a and the protrusion 32b are integrally formed, which allows the configuration of the terminal block 30 to be simplified.

[0036] 4, a portion of the heat transfer sheet 40 is interposed between the heat transfer portion 35 and the base 70. Another portion of the heat transfer sheet 40 is interposed between the protrusion 32b and the base 70. In this way, by combining the heat transfer sheet interposed between the heat transfer portion 35 and the base 70 and the heat transfer sheet interposed between the protrusion 32b and the base 70 into a single heat transfer sheet 40, the number of parts of the bus bar connection structure 50 can be reduced.

[0037] [Other embodiments] The embodiment described above can be modified as follows, for example.

[0038] 1 may be a direction oblique to the up-down direction, and at least one of the X and Y directions may be a direction oblique to the horizontal direction. Alternatively, the Z direction may be a horizontal direction, and one of the X and Y directions may be a up-down direction.

[0039] The portion of the heat transfer sheet 40 shown in Figure 1 that is interposed between the heat transfer section 35 and the base 70 and the portion of the heat transfer sheet 40 that is interposed between the protrusion 32b and the base 70 may be separated from each other and form separate heat transfer sheets.

[0040] The fourth bus bar B4 may be omitted, and the protrusion 32b may press only the third bus bar B3 against the heat transfer sheet 40. Furthermore, the protrusion 32b may press one or more other bus bars against the heat transfer sheet 40 in addition to the third bus bar B3 and the fourth bus bar B4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 30 Terminal block 32a terminal block body 32b Protrusion 35 Heat transfer section 40 Heat transfer sheet 50 Busbar connection structure 70 Base B1 First bus bar (bus bar) B2 Second busbar (busbar) B3 Third busbar (another busbar) B4 4th busbar (another busbar) Bc busbar connection

Claims

1. A terminal block for supporting a bus bar connection portion as a connection portion between a plurality of bus bars, a terminal block body made of an insulator configured to be fastened to a base body made of a conductor from a Z+ side, which is one side in a predetermined Z direction; a heat transfer portion of a conductor attached to the terminal block body so as to be exposed on both sides in the Z direction from the terminal block body, and configured so that the bus bar connection portion can be fastened to an end portion on the Z+ side; a protruding portion of an insulator that protrudes from the terminal block body in an X direction perpendicular to the Z direction and is configured to be fastened to the base, A heat transfer sheet made of an insulating material can be interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base, a bus bar other than the plurality of bus bars and an insulating heat transfer sheet can be interposed between the protruding portion and the base, in this order from the Z+ side; the terminal block body extends in a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Z direction, The terminal block body has two opposite ends sandwiching the heat transfer portion in the Y direction, and the opposite ends are configured to be fastened to the base. The protrusion protrudes in the X direction from a middle portion of the terminal block body in the Y direction. terminal block.

2. The terminal block body and the protrusion are integrally formed. The terminal block according to claim 1 .

3. A terminal block for supporting a bus bar connection portion as a connection portion between a plurality of bus bars, a terminal block body made of an insulator configured to be fastened to a base body made of a conductor from a Z+ side, which is one side in a predetermined Z direction; a heat transfer portion of a conductor attached to the terminal block body so as to be exposed on both sides in the Z direction from the terminal block body, and configured so that the bus bar connection portion can be fastened to an end portion on the Z+ side; a protruding portion of an insulator that protrudes from the terminal block body in an X direction perpendicular to the Z direction and is configured to be fastened to the base, A heat transfer sheet made of an insulating material can be interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base, a bus bar other than the plurality of bus bars and an insulating heat transfer sheet can be interposed between the protruding portion and the base, in this order from the Z+ side; The terminal block body and the protrusion are integrally formed. terminal block.

4. A terminal block according to any one of claims 1 to 3, an insulating heat transfer sheet is interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base; a bus bar other than the plurality of bus bars and an insulating heat transfer sheet are interposed between the protruding portion and the base in this order from the Z+ side; Busbar connection structure.

5. A terminal block for supporting a bus bar connection portion as a connection portion between a plurality of bus bars, a terminal block body made of an insulator configured to be fastened to a base body made of a conductor from a Z+ side, which is one side in a predetermined Z direction; a heat transfer portion of a conductor attached to the terminal block body so as to be exposed on both sides in the Z direction from the terminal block body, and configured so that the bus bar connection portion can be fastened to an end portion on the Z+ side; a protruding portion of an insulator protruding from the terminal block body in an X direction perpendicular to the Z direction; a terminal block including: an insulating heat transfer sheet is interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base; a bus bar other than the plurality of bus bars and an insulating heat transfer sheet are interposed between the protruding portion and the base in this order from the Z+ side, The protrusion is fastened to the base. Busbar connection structure.

6. a part of a predetermined heat transfer sheet is interposed between the heat transfer portion and the base; Another part of the predetermined heat transfer sheet is interposed between the protrusion and the base. The bus bar connection structure according to claim 5 .

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