Covering body for feeding conductor, conductor with covering body, voltage conversion unit, and battery unit

Abstract

[Problem] To provide: a covering body which is excellent in terms of thermal conductivity and electric insulating properties, and which can be easily attached to a feeding conductor; a conductor with a covering body, which is obtained by providing a feeding conductor with the covering body; a voltage conversion unit; and a battery unit.　[Solution] The present invention pertains to a covering body for a feeding conductor (3), the covering body covering the outer periphery of the feeding conductor (3) in a detachable manner. The covering body comprises: an elastic sheet (10) which transmits heat generated by the feeding conductor (3) to the outside and is capable of electrically insulating the feeding conductor (3) and the surroundings thereof from each other; and tape parts (15) which are capable of electrically insulating the feeding conductor (3) and the surroundings thereof from each other and are affixed to both ends of the elastic sheet (10) so as to be attachable to and detachable from each other.

Description

Covering body for power supply conductor, covered conductor, voltage conversion unit, and battery unit Cross Reference

[0001] This application claims priority under the Paris Convention based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-043495 filed in Japan on March 19, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a covering for a power supply conductor, a covered conductor, a voltage conversion unit, and a battery unit.

[0003] Power supply conductors (bus bars) made of conductors such as copper are widely used inside enclosures such as distribution boards and control panels because they can efficiently supply large amounts of current to various components. They are also used in electric vehicles (EVs), which have recently attracted attention, to electrically connect on-board batteries and other components. Specifically, power supply conductors are commonly used inside aluminum-based enclosures used in units that convert external power, such as voltage-controlled inverters or converter units, in EVs. Because such power supply conductors are often used under high voltages, there is a risk of current flowing around them and causing an accident. Therefore, the surface of the power supply conductor must be covered with some kind of insulating material. Furthermore, the power supply conductor may become very hot when a large current is passed through it, so a heat dissipation mechanism is also required.

[0004] Known methods for insulating power supply conductors include coating the conductors with a water-soluble resin (polyvinyl alcohol resin) (see Patent Document 1). Insulating tapes for power supply conductors are also widely available.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-220025

[0006] However, the above-mentioned conventionally known coverings have the following problems. When using insulating tape, it is difficult to cover a power supply conductor while it is fixed inside a housing. Furthermore, the method described in Patent Document 1 does not necessarily provide sufficient thermal conductivity, which may cause the conductor to heat up inside the housing. For these reasons, there is a demand in the market for coverings that have excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties and that can be easily attached to power supply conductors.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a coating that has excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation and is easy to attach to a power supply conductor, a conductor with a coating that is provided on a power supply conductor, a voltage conversion unit, and a battery unit.

[0008] (1) To achieve the above object, one embodiment of a power supply conductor coating includes a removable coating covering the outer periphery of the power supply conductor, the removable coating including an elastic sheet capable of conducting heat generated by the power supply conductor to the outside and electrically insulating the power supply conductor from its surroundings, and tape portions capable of electrically insulating the power supply conductor from its surroundings and fixed to both ends of the elastic sheet, which are removable from each other. (2) In another embodiment of a power supply conductor coating, the tape portions may preferably be made of silicone rubber containing a boric acid compound. (3) In another embodiment of a power supply conductor coating, the elastic sheet may preferably be a laminate of multiple layers having different hardnesses. (4) In another embodiment of a power supply conductor coating, the elastic sheet may preferably be a sheet of a curable silicone rubber composition. (5) In another embodiment of a power supply conductor coating, the sheet of a curable silicone rubber composition may preferably include a heat-dissipating filler. (6) In a coating for a power supply conductor according to another embodiment, preferably, the sheet of the curable silicone rubber composition comprises a plurality of uncured layers, and the plurality of uncured layers may be a laminate that becomes a plurality of cured layers with different hardness upon curing. (7) A coated conductor according to one embodiment for achieving the above object comprises: any one of the coatings described above; and a power supply conductor whose outer periphery is covered with the coating. (8) In a coated conductor according to another embodiment, preferably, the conductor comprises: the coating described in (3) or (6); and a power supply conductor whose outer periphery is covered with the coating, and the layer of the laminate constituting the coating having a lower hardness may be coated so as to be in contact with the power supply conductor.(9) A voltage conversion unit according to one embodiment for achieving the above object is a voltage conversion unit used to convert supplied power, comprising at least a housing for accommodating each component of the unit, a circuit board mounted inside the housing, a coated conductor according to (7) or (8) electrically connected to the circuit board, and a lid member forming an outer surface of the unit together with the housing, wherein the coated conductor has a structure that allows contact with the housing and / or the lid member on the inside. (10) A battery unit according to one embodiment for achieving the above object is a battery unit for storing power to be supplied to each part, comprising at least a housing for accommodating each component of the unit, a battery mounted inside the housing, a coated conductor according to (7) or (8) electrically connected to the battery, and a lid member forming an outer surface of the unit together with the housing, wherein the coated conductor has a structure that allows contact with the housing and / or the lid member on the inside.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a coating that has excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation and is easy to attach to a power supply conductor, a conductor with a coating that is provided on a power supply conductor, a voltage conversion unit, and a battery unit.

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram (1A) of a coating according to one embodiment as viewed from above, and a cross-sectional view (1B) of the schematic diagram taken along line A-A. FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a process for coating a power supply conductor with a coating according to one embodiment to form a coated conductor. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of a unit (voltage conversion unit) according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram (4A) of a coating according to another embodiment as viewed from above, and a cross-sectional view (4B) of the schematic diagram taken along line A-A. FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a process for coating a power supply conductor with a coating according to another embodiment to form a coated conductor. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view (6A) of a coating according to another embodiment, and a schematic diagram (6B) of a process for coating a power supply conductor with the coating to form a coated conductor.

[0011] DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMBOLS 1, 1a, 1b...coating, 3...power supply conductor, 5, 5a, 5b...conductor with coating, 10...elastic sheet, 11...low hardness layer (one of the hardened layers), 12...high hardness layer (one of the hardened layers), 15...tape portion, 20, 20a...elastic sheet, 50...unit, 51...cover member, 52...casing, 52a...protrusion, 53...circuit board, 54...connector.

[0012] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all of the elements and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention.

[0013] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram (1A) of a coating according to one embodiment as viewed from above, and a cross-sectional view (1B) of the schematic diagram taken along line A-A. Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a process for coating a power supply conductor with a coating according to one embodiment to form a coated conductor. Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of a unit (voltage conversion unit) according to one embodiment.

[0014] 1. Cover The cover 1 according to this embodiment is a detachable cover that covers the outer periphery of the power supply conductor 3. The cover 1 includes an elastic sheet 10 that transmits heat generated by the power supply conductor 3 to the outside and electrically insulates the power supply conductor 3 from its surroundings, and a detachable tape portion 15 that electrically insulates the power supply conductor 3 from its surroundings and is fixed to both ends of the elastic sheet 10. The cover 1 electrically insulates the power supply conductor 3 from its surroundings and also functions as a heat dissipation member that fills the gap with and contacts a cover member (also referred to as an upper cover) 51 of a housing 52 (described later) and transfers heat from the power supply conductor 3 to the cover member 51. The size of the cover 1 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately changed depending on the usage situation, such as the size of the power supply conductor 3 to be covered or the height of the housing 52 and the cover member 51. Note that "electrically insulating" will be abbreviated to "insulation" hereinafter. Each part of the cover 1 will be described in detail below.

[0015] 1.1 Elastic Sheet The elastic sheet 10 has excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation. The thermal conductivity of the elastic sheet 10 is expressed, for example, by thermal conductivity, and is preferably 3 W / m·K or higher. Furthermore, the electrical insulation of the elastic sheet 10 is expressed, for example, by breakdown voltage according to JIS C 2151 or US standard ASTM D149. In this case, the breakdown voltage is preferably 5 kV / mm or higher. The elastic sheet 10 according to this embodiment is a laminate of multiple layers with different hardnesses. "Hardness" can be measured by various known methods. For example, when the elastic sheet 10 is made of silicone rubber, the hardness may be measured using a Type A durometer according to JIS K 6249 or an Asker C hardness tester according to JIS K 7312. The elastic sheet 10 is composed of at least two layers. While two layers are shown in FIG. 1, three or more layers may be used. The elastic sheet 10 includes at least an inner low-hardness layer 11 that comes into close contact with the power supply conductor 3 when covering the power supply conductor 3 (described later) and an outer high-hardness layer 12 .

[0016] The elastic sheet 10 may be made of a material with high insulating properties, preferably with high thermal conductivity. The materials for each layer of the elastic sheet 10 may be any known material with at least high insulating properties, but are preferably rubber, more preferably silicone rubber, butyl rubber, urethane rubber, isoprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, acrylonitrile rubber (NBR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), fluororubber, or a composite thereof, and even more preferably silicone rubber. When silicone rubber is used for the elastic sheet 10, the silicone rubber may be cured by any curing mechanism as long as it has a siloxane bond as its main skeleton. Examples include condensation-curing silicone rubber and addition-curing silicone rubber. Details of condensation-curing silicone rubber and addition-curing silicone rubber will be described in the second embodiment. Furthermore, the materials of the multiple layers of the elastic sheet 10 with different hardnesses may be the same or different for all layers.

[0017] To increase the thermal conductivity of the material that constitutes the elastic sheet 10, each layer that constitutes the elastic sheet 10 may contain a heat-dissipating filler. Examples of the heat-dissipating filler include alumina, aluminum nitride, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), cubic boron nitride (cBN), and diamond particles, with hBN being preferred.

[0018] (Low-Hardness Layer) The low-hardness layer 11 is a layer of the laminate constituting the elastic sheet 10 that directly contacts the power supply conductor 3 when the power supply conductor 3 is covered. The hardness of the low-hardness layer 11 is lower than that of the high-hardness layer 12 constituting the elastic sheet 10. By providing a low-hardness layer in the layer that directly contacts the power supply conductor 3, adhesion during covering can be improved regardless of the shape of the power supply conductor 3, enabling coverage without gaps. Covering the power supply conductor 3 without gaps prevents gaps from forming between the power supply conductor 3 and the covering 1, further improving thermal conductivity to the outside. The low-hardness layer 11 may be a layer of cured silicone rubber (cured layer) or a layer of an uncured silicone rubber composition (uncured layer). If the low-hardness layer 11 is a layer of an uncured silicone rubber composition, the low-hardness layer 11 is an uncured layer when the covering 1 is attached to the power supply conductor 3. However, the low-hardness layer 11 hardens to become a hardened layer due to the action of moisture in the air or heat after the covering 1 is attached to the power supply conductor 3. The low-hardness layer 11 may also contain a highly insulating polyimide film or epoxy resin film inside in such a way that it is not exposed on the surface that comes into contact with the power supply conductor 3 during covering.

[0019] (High-Hardness Layer) The high-hardness layer 12 is a layer of the laminate constituting the elastic sheet 10 that does not directly contact the power supply conductor 3 during coating but forms the outer surface of the coated conductor 5 (described later) and can come into contact with the lid member 51 of the housing 52. The hardness of the high-hardness layer 12 is higher than that of the low-hardness layer 11 constituting the elastic sheet 10. By forming the outer surface of the coated conductor 5 as a layer with a higher hardness, the power supply conductor 3 can be protected from the external environment. Furthermore, even when the coated conductor 5 comes into contact with the lid member 51, the shape of the coated conductor 5 can be maintained stable, improving scratch resistance. The high-hardness layer 12 may also serve as a fusion target for the tape portion 15. The high-hardness layer 12 may be a layer of cured silicone rubber (cured layer) or a layer of an uncured silicone rubber composition (uncured layer). If the high-hardness layer 12 is a layer of an uncured silicone rubber composition, the high-hardness layer 12 is an uncured layer when the coating 1 is attached to the power supply conductor 3. However, the high-hardness layer 12 hardens to become a hardened layer due to the action of moisture in the air or heat after the coating 1 is attached to the power supply conductor 3. The high-hardness layer 12 may also contain a highly insulating polyimide film or epoxy resin film inside in a manner that does not expose it on the outer surface during coating.

[0020] (Intermediate Layer) The elastic sheet 10 may further include one or more intermediate layers (not shown) between the above-described low-hardness layer 11 and high-hardness layer 12. The intermediate layer functions as a reinforcing layer for the elastic sheet 10. The material of the intermediate layer can be appropriately selected depending on the required properties such as heat resistance, insulation, and mechanical strength, and may be, for example, a thermosetting polyimide, a thermosetting epoxy resin, or glass wool.

[0021] 1.2 Tape portion The tape portion 15 is a member for detachably fixing the covering 1 to the power supply conductor 3, and is provided on each end of the elastic sheet 10. That is, the tape portion 15 is an adhesive member for forming the covering 1 into a ring shape.

[0022] The material of the tape portion 15 is not particularly limited as long as it has excellent insulating properties, but preferably also has excellent thermal conductivity. Like the elastic sheet 10, the tape portion 15 may contain a heat-dissipating filler such as boron nitride. To simplify attachment to the power supply conductor 3, the tape portion 15 is preferably adhesive or self-fusing, and more preferably rubber exhibiting self-fusing properties. The tape portion 15 is more preferably made of self-fusing butyl rubber or self-fusing silicone rubber, and even more preferably self-fusing silicone rubber. In this embodiment, the self-fusing silicone rubber is silicone rubber containing a boric acid compound. By constructing the tape portion 15 from self-fusing silicone rubber, the covering 1 can be fixed to the power supply conductor 3 simply by pulling the tape portion 15 and fusing it to other tape portions 15, without using any additional adhesive or the like. Furthermore, if the tape portion 15 itself is made of silicone rubber with excellent thermal conductivity, heat from the power supply conductor 3 is easily dissipated to the cover member 51 via the tape portion 15.

[0023] The proportion of the width of the tape portion 15 relative to the coating 1 is not particularly limited as long as it allows the coating 1 to be fixed to the power supply conductor 3, and can be changed appropriately depending on the usage situation.

[0024] (Self-adhesive silicone rubber) The self-adhesive silicone rubber is a cured product obtained by curing a curable composition containing, for example, a diorganopolysiloxane represented by the following chemical formula (I) and a boric acid compound. However, the self-adhesive silicone rubber may also be a cured product whose main component is an organopolysiloxane other than diorganopolysiloxane.

[0025] (R in formula (I) １ is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. n in formula (I) is 1.98 to 2.02.

[0026] R in formula (I) １is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Examples of the hydrocarbon group include an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, and an aryl group. Examples of the alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, and a butyl group. Examples of the cycloalkyl group include a cyclohexyl group. Examples of the alkenyl group include a vinyl group, an allyl group, a butenyl group, and a hexenyl group. Examples of the aryl group include a phenyl group and a tolyl group. In addition, R １ The R may be a group in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbon group have been substituted with halogen atoms, cyano groups, etc. When curing the silicone composition, if curing is accelerated with an organic peroxide as described below, R １ is preferably an alkenyl group or a group in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the alkenyl group have been substituted with halogen atoms or cyano groups. n in formula (I) is 1.98 to 2.02. When n is within this range, better self-bonding properties can be obtained.

[0027] The kinematic viscosity of the diorganopolysiloxane at 25° C. is preferably 100 to 100,000,000 cSt, and more preferably 100,000 to 10,000,000 cSt. When the kinematic viscosity of the diorganopolysiloxane at 25° C. is within this range, the diorganopolysiloxane exhibits excellent handleability before curing and excellent mechanical properties after curing.

[0028] Examples of boric acid compounds include boric acid and derivatives of boric acid anhydride. Examples of boric acid include boric acid anhydride, pyroboric acid, and orthoboric acid. Examples of derivatives of boric acid anhydride include trimethyl borate, triethyl borate, and trimethoxyboroxine. In addition, polyorganoborosiloxanes obtained by condensing organoalkoxysilanes such as dimethyldimethoxysilane or dimethyldiethoxysilane with boric acid anhydride can also be used as boric acid compounds. One type of boric acid compound may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

[0029] The content of the boric acid compound in the curable composition is preferably 0.1 to 50 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by mass, and even more preferably 1 to 5 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of the diorganopolysiloxane. When the content of the boric acid compound is equal to or greater than the lower limit, sufficient self-fusing properties can be ensured, and when it is equal to or less than the upper limit, deterioration of mechanical properties can be suppressed.

[0030] The curable composition may contain an organic peroxide as a crosslinking agent to promote curing of the composition. Examples of organic peroxides include hydroperoxides, dialkyl peroxides, peroxyesters, diacyl peroxides, and peroxydicarbonates. Among these, diacyl peroxides are preferred. These organic peroxides may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0031] The content of the organic peroxide in the curable composition is preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by mass, and more preferably 0.06 to 8 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of the diorganopolysiloxane. If the amount of organic peroxide is less than the lower limit, the vulcanization reaction may not proceed sufficiently, resulting in deterioration of physical properties such as reduced hardness and insufficient rubber strength. If the amount is more than the upper limit, not only is it economically disadvantageous, but it may also have an adverse effect on other physical properties.

[0032] 2. Manufacturing Method of Covering Body The method for manufacturing the covering body 1 is, for example, as follows. First, a curable composition for a silicone rubber sheet constituting the low-hardness layer 11 and a curable composition for a silicone rubber sheet constituting the high-hardness layer 12 are prepared. The curable compositions of the prepared sheets are stacked to form the curable composition of the elastic sheet 10. A curable composition of a self-fusing silicone rubber constituting the tape portion 15 is placed on the surface and / or both ends of the composition of the elastic sheet 10 to form the curable composition of the covering body 1. Next, the curable composition of the covering body 1 is molded by a method such as extrusion molding while being thermally cured. Note that the tape portion 15 does not necessarily have to be molded integrally with the elastic sheet 10. For example, the curable composition of the elastic sheet 10 and the curable composition of the tape portion 15 may be molded and cured separately, and the tape portion 15 may then be adhered to the surface and / or both ends of the elastic sheet 10.

[0033] When the covering 1 includes the above-described intermediate layer, the intermediate layer may be sandwiched between the curable compositions of the silicone rubber sheet that constitutes the low-hardness layer 11 and the curable composition of the silicone rubber sheet that constitutes the high-hardness layer 12 when the two layers are stacked together. When the low-hardness layer 11 or the high-hardness layer 12 includes an insulating film such as a polyimide film or an epoxy resin film, the insulating film may be disposed so as to be embedded in the curable composition of the low-hardness layer 11 or the high-hardness layer 12, and the insulating film may then be covered with the curable composition.

[0034] Another manufacturing method is, for example, as follows. The self-fusing silicone rubber curable composition that constitutes the tape portion 15 is formed into a sheet and heat-cured. Next, the curable composition of the silicone rubber sheet that constitutes the low-hardness layer 11 and the curable composition of the silicone rubber sheet that constitutes the high-hardness layer 12 are laminated together. Each tape portion 15 is adhered to the surface and / or both ends of the laminated elastic sheet 10. The resulting covering 1 is placed in a bag to prevent it from coming into contact with air. When in use, the bag is opened, the covering 1 is removed, and the power supply conductor 3 is covered with the covering 1. The covering 1 then cures due to the action of moisture in the air. Note that if a material that can be cured by other means than the action of moisture is selected, it can also be cured by heating, for example, using a hair dryer.

[0035] The power supply conductor 3 can be any known conductor used in switchboards, control panels, automotive batteries, etc. The shape of the power supply conductor 3 is not particularly limited. The coating 1 according to this embodiment can be used regardless of the shape of the power supply conductor 3. The material of the power supply conductor 3 is not particularly limited as long as it has low electrical resistance and can conduct a large amount of current. Specifically, various known materials, such as copper plate and aluminum plate, can be used. When using copper plate, copper or copper alloys can be used, such as those specified in JIS H 3100:2018 (Copper and Copper Alloy Plate and Strip). Specifically, oxygen-free copper (C1020), tough pitch copper (C1100), phosphorus-deoxidized copper (C1201), tin-containing copper (C1441), zirconium-containing copper (C1510), iron-containing copper (C1921), etc. can be used. When using aluminum plate, aluminum or aluminum alloys can be used.

[0036] 3. Covering Method Using a Cover When covering the power supply conductor 3 with the covering 1, the low-hardness layer 11 is first placed in close contact with the power supply conductor 3 before current is applied, and the power supply conductor 3 is partially or entirely covered with the elastic sheet 10. Next, at least one of the tape portions 15 provided at both ends of the covering 1 is pulled and fused to the other tape portion 15, thereby covering the power supply conductor 3 in a ring shape with the covering 1. The covering 1 can easily cover the power supply conductor 3 even after the power supply conductor 3 has been installed inside the housing 52. Note that if the power supply conductor 3 has octopus-shaped branched portions branching from the trunk portion and the branched portions are electrically connected to the circuit board 53 (described below), the covering 1 may be appropriately cut out to cover the trunk portion of the power supply conductor 3 without interfering with the branched portions.

[0037] 4. Coated Conductor The coated conductor 5 is a structure formed by coating the power supply conductor 3 with the above-described coating 1. In this embodiment, the outer surface of the coated conductor 5 is composed of the high-hardness layer 12 and tape portion 15 of the laminate of elastic sheets 10. The coating 1 is fixed to the power supply conductor 3 by fusing at least one tape portion 15 to the other tape portion 15. The coated conductor 5 has a structure in which the high-hardness layer 12, the low-hardness layer 11, and the power supply conductor 3 are laminated in this order from the outside, excluding the tape portion 15. The low-hardness layer 11 of the laminate of elastic sheets 10 is in contact with the power supply conductor 3. One or more intermediate layers (not shown) may be interposed between the high-hardness layer 12 and the low-hardness layer 11.

[0038] When the coating 1 of the conductor 5 is a laminate of multiple layers of different hardness, the coating 1 is preferably coated so that the layer with the lower hardness of the laminate that makes up the coating 1 is in contact with the power supply conductor 3.

[0039] 5. Unit The unit 50 according to this embodiment is, for example, a voltage conversion unit used to convert a supplied voltage, and includes at least a housing 52 for accommodating various components, a circuit board 53 placed inside the housing 52, the coated conductor 5 described above electrically connected to the circuit board 53, and a cover member 51 that forms the outer surface of the unit together with the housing 52. The unit 50 can be manufactured appropriately using a known manufacturing method, except for the coated conductor 5 described above.

[0040] The voltage conversion unit is a unit 50 for converting the voltage of the power supplied from an external battery through a connector 54. For example, it may be a DC / AC inverter that converts the voltage from direct current to alternating current, or a DC / DC converter that reduces the voltage.

[0041] The housing 52 and / or the cover member 51 are structured so that the coated conductor 5 inside the unit 50 can come into contact with at least a portion of the housing 52 and / or the cover member 51. In this embodiment, the high-hardness layer 12 and / or the tape portion 15 of the coated conductor 5 are in contact with the housing 52. The power supply conductor 3 is not in direct contact with the housing 52. This is to prevent current from flowing through the housing 52. The housing 52 preferably has a protrusion 52a that can come into contact with the coated conductor 5. While FIG. 3 shows three protrusions 52a on the housing 52, this is not limited thereto and may include one, two, or four or more protrusions. The housing 52 and the cover member 51 are not particularly limited as long as they have excellent heat dissipation properties, and may be manufactured by die-casting using an aluminum alloy or the like. The circuit board 53 can be a known circuit board, such as a printed circuit board, as long as it is capable of performing the voltage conversion described above.

[0042] The power supply conductor 3 in the unit 50 according to this embodiment can efficiently dissipate heat by contacting the housing 52 of the unit 50. Due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances, the power supply conductor 3 may be misaligned at the contact point with the housing 52, making it impossible to contact the protrusion 52 a. Therefore, by using a coated conductor 5 coated with the coating 1, the misalignment with the protrusion 52 a is eliminated, enabling contact, and enabling heat dissipation from the power supply conductor 3 while preventing current from flowing to the housing 52.

[0043] The unit 50 according to this embodiment may be, for example, a battery unit for storing power to be supplied to each component. The battery unit is the voltage conversion unit described above, with the circuit board 53 replaced with a battery. The battery is composed of a plurality of battery cells and is electrically connected to the power supply conductor 3 via the electrodes of the battery cells. The type of battery is not particularly limited, and known batteries such as lithium-ion batteries can be used. The housing 52 and / or the cover member 51 for the battery unit may have a cooling structure such as a heat pipe inside to cool the battery cells.

[0044] Furthermore, the battery unit may incorporate at least the coated conductor 5 and the circuit board 53 of the voltage conversion unit described above as a transformer module.

[0045] Second Embodiment Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram (4A) of a coating according to another embodiment as viewed from above, and a cross-sectional view (4B) of the schematic diagram taken along line A-A. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a process of coating a power supply conductor with a coating according to another embodiment to form a coated conductor. Explanations of parts that overlap with those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0046] 1. Cover The cover 1a according to this embodiment includes an elastic sheet 20a and detachable tape portions 15 fixed to both ends of the elastic sheet 20a. This differs from the cover 1 according to the first embodiment in the configuration of the elastic sheet 20a. The elastic sheet 20a will be described in detail below.

[0047] (Elastic Sheet) The elastic sheet 20a has excellent thermal conductivity and insulating properties. The elastic sheet 20a according to this embodiment is a single-layer sheet-shaped molded product of a curable silicone rubber composition that is in an uncured state when the covering 1a covers the power supply conductor 3. The elastic sheet 20a is cured to form the elastic sheet 20 after covering the power supply conductor 3. In FIG. 4, the sheet of the curable silicone rubber composition consists of a single uncured layer. However, this embodiment is not limited to this. The elastic sheet 20a may be composed of two or more sheets (uncured layers) of the curable silicone rubber composition. Furthermore, the multiple uncured layers may be a laminate that becomes multiple cured layers with different hardnesses upon curing. The hardness of the multiple uncured layers upon curing can be appropriately changed by adjusting the type and amount of filler in the curable silicone rubber composition, as described below.

[0048] In this embodiment, by using an uncured sheet for the elastic sheet 20a, high conformability and flexibility can be maintained when covering the power supply conductor 3, thereby allowing for tight adhesion to the power supply conductor 3 and further improving thermal conductivity from the power supply conductor 3 to the covering 1a. Furthermore, after the sheet is cured, the thermal conductivity and insulating properties can be maintained as they are, while improving shape stability and durability when in contact with other members such as the cover member 51 of the housing 52.

[0049] (Curable Silicone Rubber Composition) The curable silicone rubber composition used for the elastic sheet 20a is preferably a condensation reaction type composition from the viewpoint of simplifying the coating process. A condensation reaction type curable silicone rubber composition can be cured by the simple means of reacting with moisture in the air by leaving it at room temperature. The silicone elastomer obtained by curing the curable silicone rubber composition is preferably a moisture-curable silicone elastomer. The curable silicone rubber composition may also be an addition reaction type curable silicone rubber composition that is cured by heating. In that case, the curable silicone rubber composition is made of a heat-curable silicone elastomer.

[0050] (1) Condensation Reaction Type Curable Silicone Rubber Composition When the curable silicone rubber composition is a condensation reaction type, the condensation reaction type curable silicone rubber composition can be composed mainly of, for example, the following components.

[0051] (1-1) Organopolysiloxane The organopolysiloxane is the main component of a condensation reaction-type curable silicone rubber composition, and is preferably a diorganopolysiloxane represented by the following chemical formula (II) or chemical formula (III). Here, "main component" refers to the component that accounts for the largest mass ratio among the components that make up the curable silicone rubber composition. The organopolysiloxane is preferably contained in the curable silicone rubber composition in an amount of 50 mass% or more, but may be less than 50 mass% as long as it is the main component. The chemical formula may also be referred to as an average composition formula.

[0052]

[0053]

[0054] In the above chemical formulas (II) and (III), R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group. Examples of R include one or more hydrocarbon groups selected from alkyl groups (methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, 2-ethylbutyl, octyl, etc.), cycloalkyl groups (cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, etc.), alkenyl groups (vinyl, propenyl, butenyl, heptenyl, hexenyl, allyl, etc.), aryl groups (phenyl, tolyl, xylyl, naphthyl, diphenyl, etc.), aralkyl groups (benzyl, phenylethyl, etc.), and the above hydrocarbon groups in which at least a portion of the hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms have been substituted with halogen, cyano groups, or the like (chloromethyl, trifluoropropyl, 2-cyanoethyl, 3-cyanopropyl, etc.). The number of carbon atoms in R is preferably 1 to 12, and more preferably 1 to 10. In the above chemical formulas (II) and (III), A is an oxygen atom or -(CH ２ ) ｍ A is a polymethylene group (including a methylene group) represented by the formula - (m is 1 to 8). A is preferably an oxygen atom or an ethylene group.

[0055] In the above chemical formulas (II) and (III), n is the kinematic viscosity of component (1-1) at 25°C of 100 to 1,000,000 cm ２ / s. The kinematic viscosity is an arbitrary number within the range of 500 to 500,000 cm ２ It is more preferable that the range is .beta. / s.

[0056] In the above chemical formulas (II) and (III), B is a hydrolyzable group. Examples of B include alkoxy groups (e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, and butoxy), ketoxime groups (e.g., dimethylketoxime and methylethylketoxime), acyloxy groups (e.g., acetoxy), and alkenyloxy groups (e.g., isopropenyloxy and isobutenyloxy). In the above chemical formulas (II) and (III), x is 2 or 3.

[0057] The component (1-1) can be produced by known methods (for example, an equilibrium reaction using a cyclic siloxane or a linear oligomer with an acid catalyst or a base catalyst).

[0058] When introducing a branched structure into the diorganopolysiloxane of component (1-1), the usual method is to introduce SiO ３／２ Units and SiO ４／２ A method can be used in which a silane or siloxane containing at least one of the units is added to an extent that the diorganopolysiloxane does not gel. In order to reduce contamination, it is preferable to remove the low-molecular-weight siloxane by washing or the like before use.

[0059] (1-2) Crosslinking Agent Preferably, an organic peroxide crosslinking agent is used as the crosslinking agent. Examples of organic peroxide crosslinking agents include benzoyl peroxide, bis-2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis(t-butylperoxy)hexane. One organic peroxide crosslinking agent may be used alone, or two or more organic peroxide crosslinking agents may be used in combination. The amount of crosslinking agent added is preferably within the range of 1 to 50 parts by mass, more preferably within the range of 2 to 30 parts by mass, and even more preferably within the range of 5 to 20 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of component (1-1).

[0060] (1-3) Curing Catalyst Although a curing catalyst is not essential, the use of a curing catalyst can accelerate the curing of the curable silicone rubber composition. Examples of curing catalysts include alkyltin ester compounds (dibutyltin diacetate, dibutyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin dioctoate, etc.), titanate ester or titanium chelate compounds (tetraisopropoxytitanium, tetra-n-butoxytitanium, tetrakis(2-ethylhexoxy)titanium, dipropoxybis(acetylacetona)titanium, titanium isopropoxyoctylene glycol, etc.), other suitable organometallic compounds (zinc naphthenate, zinc stearate, zinc-2-ethyloctoate, iron-2-ethylhexoate, cobalt-2-ethylhexoate, manganese-2-ethylhexoate, cobalt naphthenate, alkoxyaluminum compounds, etc.), aminoalkyl group-substituted alkoxysilanes (3-aminopropyl Examples of suitable curing catalysts include methyltriethoxysilane, N-β(aminoethyl)γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, etc.), amine compounds or salts thereof (hexylamine, dodecylamine phosphate, etc.), quaternary ammonium salts (benzyltriethylammonium acetate, etc.), alkali metal salts of lower fatty acids (potassium acetate, sodium acetate, lithium oxalate, etc.), alkali metal salts of lower fatty acids, dialkylhydroxylamines (dimethylhydroxylamine, diethylhydroxylamine, etc.), and silanes or siloxanes having a guanidyl group (tetramethylguanidylpropyltrimethoxysilane, tetramethylguanidylpropylmethyldimethoxysilane, tetramethylguanidylpropyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, etc.). These may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more. The amount of curing catalyst blended is preferably 0 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 0.001 to 10 parts by weight, and even more preferably 0.01 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of component (1-1).

[0061] (1-4) Filler A filler is not essential, but can be suitably used for purposes such as reinforcement. Examples of fillers include reinforcing agents (fumed silica, precipitated silica, silica whose surface has been hydrophobized with an organosilicon compound, quartz powder, talc, zeolite, bentonite, etc.), fibrous fillers (asbestos, glass fiber, organic fiber, etc.), and basic fillers (calcium carbonate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, celite, etc.). Among these, silica, calcium carbonate, and zeolite are preferred, and fumed silica and calcium carbonate whose surface has been hydrophobized are even more preferred. The amount of the filler to be added can be selected depending on the purpose and the type of filler, but is preferably in the range of 1 to 90% by volume, and more preferably 5 to 60% by volume, of component (1-1).

[0062] (1-5) Adhesion-Providing Component Although an adhesion-providing component is not essential, it is preferably used. Examples of the adhesion-providing component include amino group-containing organoalkoxysilanes (γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, etc.), epoxy group-containing organoalkoxysilanes (γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, etc.), mercapto-containing organoalkoxysilanes (γ-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, etc.), and reaction mixtures of amino group-containing organoalkoxysilanes and epoxy group-containing organoalkoxysilanes. The amount of the adhesion-providing component is preferably within the range of 0.1 to 5 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of component (1-1).

[0063] (1-6) Heat-Conducting Filler The condensation-cure type curable silicone rubber composition preferably contains a heat-conducting filler to increase thermal conductivity after curing. Examples of the heat-conducting filler include alumina, aluminum nitride, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), cubic boron nitride (cBN), and diamond particles, with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) being preferred. The amount of heat-conducting filler blended is preferably 5 to 200 parts by mass, more preferably 10 to 100 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of component (1-1).

[0064] (2) Addition-Cure Type Curable Silicone Rubber Composition When the curable silicone rubber composition is of the addition-cure type, the addition-cure type curable silicone rubber composition can be composed mainly of, for example, the following components.

[0065] (2-1) Organopolysiloxane Organopolysiloxane is the base component of addition-cure curable silicone rubber compositions and contains an average of two or more alkenyl groups per molecule. Examples of alkenyl groups include vinyl, allyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, and heptenyl. Of these, vinyl is preferred. In addition, examples of organic groups bonded to silicon atoms other than alkenyl groups in this component include alkyl groups (methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, etc.), aryl groups (phenyl, tolyl, xylyl, etc.), and halogenated alkyl groups (3-chloropropyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, etc.). Of these, methyl is preferred. Examples of the molecular structure of this component include linear, partially branched linear, branched, network, and dendritic. The viscosity of this component at 25°C is preferably at least 100,000 mPa·s, and more preferably at least 1,000,000 mPa·s.

[0066] Examples of organopolysiloxanes of this component include polydimethylsiloxanes endblocked at both molecular chain ends with dimethylvinylsiloxy groups, dimethylsiloxane-methylvinylsiloxane copolymers endblocked at both molecular chain ends with dimethylvinylsiloxy groups, dimethylsiloxane-methylvinylsiloxane copolymers endblocked at both molecular chain ends with trimethylsiloxy groups, (CH ３ ) ３ SiO １／２ and a siloxane unit represented by (CH ３ ) ２ (CH ２ =CH)SiO １／２ and a siloxane unit represented by SiO ４／２and organopolysiloxanes in which at least a portion of the methyl groups of these organopolysiloxanes have been substituted with substituents selected from alkyl groups (ethyl groups, propyl groups, etc.), aryl groups (phenyl groups, tolyl groups, etc.) and halogenated alkyl groups (3,3,3-trifluoropropyl groups, etc.); organopolysiloxanes in which at least a portion of the vinyl groups of these organopolysiloxanes have been substituted with alkenyl groups (allyl groups, propenyl groups, etc.); and mixtures of two or more of these organopolysiloxanes can be used.

[0067] (2-2) Hydrogenated Organopolysiloxanes Hydrogenated organopolysiloxanes function as curing agents for addition-cure curable silicone rubber compositions and contain an average of two or more silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule. Examples of organic groups bonded to silicon in this component include alkyl groups (methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, etc.), aryl groups (phenyl, tolyl, xylyl, etc.), and halogenated alkyl groups (3-chloropropyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, etc.). Of the above, methyl groups are preferred. Examples of the molecular structure of this component include linear, partially branched linear, branched, network, and dendritic. The viscosity of this component at 25°C is not limited, but is preferably in the range of 1 to 1,000,000 mPa·s, and even more preferably in the range of 1 to 10,000 mPa·s.

[0068] Examples of hydrogenated organopolysiloxanes of this component include polydimethylsiloxanes endblocked at both molecular chain terminals with dimethylhydrogensiloxy groups, polymethylhydrogensiloxanes endblocked at both molecular chain terminals with trimethylsiloxy groups, dimethylsiloxane-methylhydrogensiloxane copolymers endblocked at both molecular chain terminals with trimethylsiloxy groups, cyclic polymethylhydrogensiloxanes, (CH ３ ) ２ HSiO １／２ and a siloxane unit represented by SiO ４／２and organopolysiloxanes in which at least a portion of the methyl groups of these organopolysiloxanes have been substituted with alkyl groups (e.g., ethyl, propyl, etc.), aryl groups (e.g., phenyl, tolyl, etc.), or halogenated alkyl groups (e.g., 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, etc.), as well as mixtures of two or more of these organopolysiloxanes. Of these, it is preferable to use a mixture of an organopolysiloxane having silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms only at both molecular chain terminals and an organopolysiloxane having silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in molecular chain side chains, because this improves the mechanical properties (elongation in particular) of the resulting cured product.

[0069] The content of this component in an addition-cure curable silicone rubber composition is an amount such that the molar ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in this component to alkenyl groups in component (2-1) is in the range of 0.01 to 20, preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10, and even more preferably in the range of 0.1 to 5. The reason for specifying the above range is that if the content of this component is at or above the lower limit of the above range, the adhesive silicone rubber tends to be sufficiently cured easily, whereas if it is below the upper limit of the above range, the mechanical properties of the cured adhesive sheet tend to be improved. Furthermore, when a mixture of an organopolysiloxane having silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms only at both molecular terminals and an organopolysiloxane having silicon-bonded side chains is used as component (2-1), the amount of the former organopolysiloxane is preferably contained in an amount such that the molar ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in component (2-1) to alkenyl groups is in the range of 0.01 to 10, more preferably 0.1 to 10, and even more preferably 0.1 to 5. Furthermore, the amount of the latter organopolysiloxane is preferably contained in an amount such that the molar ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in component (2-1) to alkenyl groups is in the range of 0.5 to 20, more preferably 0.5 to 10, and even more preferably 0.5 to 5.

[0070] (2-3) Curing Catalyst A curing catalyst is not required, but a preferred example is a platinum-based catalyst for hydrosilylation reactions. Examples of platinum-based catalysts for hydrosilylation reactions include platinum fine powder, platinum black, chloroplatinic acid, alcohol-modified chloroplatinic acid, complexes of platinum and diketones, complexes of chloroplatinic acid and olefins, complexes of chloroplatinic acid and alkenylsiloxanes, and carriers (alumina, silica, carbon black, etc.) supported by these. Among these, a complex of chloroplatinic acid and alkenylsiloxane is preferred due to its high catalytic activity. Furthermore, a complex of chloroplatinic acid and divinyltetramethyldisiloxane is even more preferred. The amount of this component is preferably 1 to 1,000 parts by mass, and even more preferably 1 to 100 parts by mass, in terms of platinum metal atoms, per 1,000,000 parts by mass of component (2-1).

[0071] (2-4) Filler A filler is preferably added to improve the mechanical strength of the addition-cure curable silicone rubber composition, and known compounds typically used in compounding silicone rubbers can be used. Examples of this component include fumed silica, precipitated silica, calcined silica, crushed quartz, and powders of these silicas that have been surface-treated with an organosilicon compound (organoalkoxysilane, organohalosilane, organosilazane, etc.). In particular, to sufficiently improve the mechanical strength of the cured adhesive sheet, a filler having a BET specific surface area of ​​50 m or more is preferred as this component. ２ It is preferable to use a silica powder having a surface roughness of 1 / g or more.

[0072] The addition of this component to an addition-curable silicone rubber composition is optional. However, to improve the mechanical strength of the cured adhesive silicone rubber, the amount of this component is preferably 1 to 1,000 parts by mass, and more preferably 1 to 400 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of component (2-1). The addition-curable silicone rubber composition may also contain other optional components, such as inorganic and organic fillers, such as fumed titanium oxide, diatomaceous earth, iron oxide, aluminum oxide, aluminosilicates, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, and aluminum hydroxide. The addition-curable silicone rubber composition may also contain fillers whose surfaces have been treated with the aforementioned organosilicon compounds. The amount of filler added can be selected depending on the purpose and type of filler, but is preferably 1 to 90% by volume, and more preferably 5 to 60% by volume, of component (2-1).

[0073] (2-5) Adhesion-Providing Component This component is not essential, but can be suitably used to provide and improve the adhesiveness of an addition-cure curable silicone rubber composition so that it can function as an adhesive. Examples of this component include silane coupling agents and their partial hydrolysates (methyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, allyltrimethoxysilane, 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, bis(trimethoxysilyl)propane, bis(trimethoxysilyl)hexane, etc.), organic compounds having "epoxy groups, acid anhydride groups, α-cyanoacrylic groups," siloxane compounds having "epoxy groups, acid anhydride groups, α-cyanoacrylic groups," organic compounds or siloxane compounds having both "epoxy groups, acid anhydride groups, α-cyanoacrylic groups" and alkoxysilyl groups, titanium dioxide ... Examples of suitable siloxane compounds include siloxane compounds (tetraethyl titanate, tetrapropyl titanate, tetrabutyl titanate, tetra(2-ethylhexyl)titanate, titanium ethylacetonate, titanium acetylacetonate, etc.), aluminum compounds (ethylacetoacetate aluminum diisopropylate, aluminum tris(ethylacetoacetate), alkylacetoacetate aluminum diisopropylate, aluminum tris(acetylacetonate), aluminum monoacetylacetonate bis(ethylacetoacetate), etc.), and zirconium compounds (zirconium acetylacetonate, zirconium butoxyacetylacetonate, zirconium bisacetylacetonate, zirconium ethylacetoacetate, etc.). Among the above-mentioned siloxane compounds, compounds having lower aliphatic unsaturated groups such as alkenyl groups, acryloyl groups, and methacryloyl groups, or compounds having these groups in combination with hydrosilyl groups, can be expected to effectively contribute to improving adhesion. The content of the adhesion-imparting component is not particularly limited, but it is preferably in the range of 0.01 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of component (2-1).

[0074] Furthermore, in order to adjust the curing properties of the addition-curing type curable silicone rubber composition, acetylene compounds (3-methyl-1-butyn-3-ol, 3,5-dimethyl-1-hexyn-3-ol, 3-phenyl-1-butyn-3-ol, etc.), ene-yne ​​compounds (3-methyl-3-penten-1-yne, 3,5-dimethyl-3-hexen-1-yne, etc.), organosiloxane compounds having 5% by mass or more of vinyl groups in one molecule (1,3,5,7-tetramethyl Preferably, the curing agent (2-1) contains a curing inhibitor such as 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane, 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetrahexenylcyclotetrasiloxane, methylvinylsiloxane end-blocked with silanol groups at both molecular chain terminals, or methylvinylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane copolymer end-blocked with silanol groups at both molecular chain terminals), or another cure inhibitor (a triazole such as benzotriazole, a phosphine, a mercaptan, or a hydrazine). The amount of these compounds contained is not limited, but is preferably within a range of 0.001 to 5 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of component (2-1).

[0075] (2-6) Heat-Conducting Filler Similar to the condensation-curing type, the addition-curing type curable silicone rubber composition preferably contains a heat-conducting filler to increase thermal conductivity after curing. Examples of the heat-conducting filler include alumina, aluminum nitride, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), cubic boron nitride (cBN), and diamond particles, with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) being preferred. The amount of heat-conducting filler is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of 5 to 200 parts by mass, more preferably 10 to 100 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of component (2-1).

[0076] The method for preparing an addition-cure curable silicone rubber composition is not limited, and it can be prepared by mixing other optional components as needed, but it is preferable to add the remaining components to a base compound that has been prepared in advance by heating and mixing component (2-1) and component (2-3). When other optional components are added, they may be added when preparing the base compound, or, if the other optional components are subject to deterioration by heating and mixing, they may be added when adding component (2-2) or component (2-4). Furthermore, when preparing the base compound, the aforementioned organosilicon compound may be added to in-situ treat the surface of component (2-3).

[0077] (Tape Part) The tape part 15 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0078] (Power Supply Conductor) The power supply conductor 3 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0079] 2. Manufacturing Method of the Covered Body The covered body 1a according to this embodiment comprises an uncured elastic sheet 20a and a cured tape portion 15 at the time of manufacturing. The tape portion 15 is molded and cured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The uncured elastic sheet 20a is molded. The molding method for the elastic sheet 20a is, for example, extrusion molding. Then, the tape portions 15 are placed on both ends of the molded elastic sheet 20a and attached to form the covered body 1a.

[0080] 3. Covering Method Using a Covering Body When covering the power supply conductor 3 with the covering body 1a, first, an uncured elastic sheet 20a is placed in close contact with the power supply conductor 3 before current is applied, and the power supply conductor 3 is partially or entirely covered with the elastic sheet 20a. Next, the covering body 1a is fused to the surface and / or the other of the tape portions 15 provided on both ends of the covering body 1a to fix the covering body 1a to the power supply conductor 3. Thereafter, if the elastic sheet 20a is a condensation-type curable silicone rubber composition, the curable silicone rubber composition hardens over time due to the action of moisture, becoming the elastic sheet 20. On the other hand, if the elastic sheet 20a is primarily composed of an addition-type curable silicone rubber, the curable silicone rubber composition hardens over time, becoming the elastic sheet 20. If the elastic sheet 20a is an addition-type curable silicone rubber composition, the elastic sheet 20a is cured by heating, becoming the elastic sheet 20.

[0081] 4. Coated Conductor The coated conductor 5a is a structure formed by coating the power supply conductor 3 with the above-described coating 1a. In this embodiment, the periphery of the power supply conductor 3 is coated with an elastic sheet 20. The elastic sheet 20 is a sheet obtained by curing the curable silicone rubber composition of the elastic sheet 20a. The tape portions 15 on both ends of the coating 1a are fused together to coat the power supply conductor 3 in a ring shape.

[0082] 5. Unit In the unit 50 of this embodiment, the elastic sheet 20 and / or the tape portion 15 of the coated conductor 5a contacts at least a portion (e.g., the protrusion 52a) of the housing 52 and / or the cover member 51. Other points are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0083] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be modified in various ways.

[0084] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view (6A) of a coating according to another embodiment, and a schematic diagram (6B) of a process for coating a power supply conductor with the coating to form a coated conductor.

[0085] For example, the tape portion 15 of the covering 1 does not have to be integrally formed with the elastic sheet 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 , the tape portion 15 may overlap the surface of the elastic sheet 10 (high-hardness layer 12 in FIG. 6 ) to form a covering 1b. The tape portions 15 then self-fuse to each other, covering the power supply conductor 3 with the covering 1b to form a covered conductor 5b. The tape portion 15 may be fixed to the end surface or rear surface of the elastic sheet 10. Alternatively, the tape portion 15 may be fixed to the front or rear surface of the elastic sheets 20, 20a. As a further alternative, a kit product including the elastic sheets 10, 20, 20a and the tape portion 15 may be marketed. After the user covers the power supply conductor 3 with the elastic sheets 10, 20, 20a, the tape portion 15 may be used to close both ends of the elastic sheets 10, 20. In this case, the kit is a kit of a detachable covering that covers the outer periphery of the power supply conductor 3, and includes elastic sheets 10, 20, 20a that can transfer heat generated by the power supply conductor 3 to the outside and can provide electrical insulation between the power supply conductor 3 and its surroundings, and tape portions 15 that can provide electrical insulation between the power supply conductor 3 and its surroundings and are fixed to both ends of the elastic sheets 10, 20 and can be attached and detached to each other.

[0086] The covering according to the present invention can be used for heat dissipation and insulation of power supply conductors.

Claims

1. A detachable covering for covering the outer periphery of a power supply conductor, comprising: an elastic sheet that can conduct heat generated by the power supply conductor to the outside and can provide electrical insulation between the power supply conductor and its surroundings; and tape portions that can provide electrical insulation between the power supply conductor and its surroundings and are fixed to both ends of the elastic sheet and can be attached and detached from each other.

2. The covering of a power supply conductor according to claim 1, wherein the tape portion is made of silicone rubber containing a boric acid compound.

3. The covering for a power supply conductor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic sheet is a laminate of multiple layers with different hardness.

4. A covering for a power supply conductor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastic sheet is a sheet of a curable silicone rubber composition.

5. The covering for a power supply conductor according to claim 4, wherein the sheet of curable silicone rubber composition contains a heat dissipating filler.

6. A coating for a power supply conductor as described in claim 4 or 5, wherein the sheet of curable silicone rubber composition is composed of multiple uncured layers, and the multiple uncured layers are a laminate that becomes multiple cured layers of different hardness upon curing.

7. A coated conductor comprising: a coating according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and a power supply conductor the outer periphery of which is covered with the coating.

8. A coated conductor comprising: a coating according to claim 3 or 6; and a power supply conductor whose outer periphery is covered with said coating, wherein the layer of the laminate constituting said coating that has a lower hardness is coated so as to come into contact with said power supply conductor.

9. A voltage conversion unit used to convert supplied power, comprising at least a housing for storing each component of the unit, a circuit board placed inside the housing, a coated conductor as described in claim 7 or 8 electrically connected to the circuit board, and a cover member which, together with the housing, constitutes the outer surface of the unit, and the voltage conversion unit is structured so that the coated conductor can come into contact with the housing and / or the cover member on the inside.

10. A battery unit for storing power to be supplied to each part, comprising at least a housing for storing each part of the unit, a battery placed inside the housing, a coated conductor as described in claim 7 or 8 electrically connected to the battery, and a cover member which, together with the housing, constitutes the outer surface of the unit, and the battery unit is structured so that the coated conductor can come into contact with the housing and / or the cover member on the inside.

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